There might be one less team for the Los Angeles Lakers to worry about in the Western Conference as the Portland Trail Blazers will fail to make any sort of noise without Damian Lillard. Lillard has not yet played in the 2022 calendar year and is not going to be with the team during its upcoming six-game road trip due to the abdominal injury that he has been dealing with all season.
Lillard is expected to meet with a specialist and head coach Chauncey Billups did not rule out the possibility of Lillard not playing again this season. All signs are pointing to Lillard ending his season prematurely, especially considering the Portland Trail Blazers have not been playing up to par thus far this season.
Portland is currently 11th in the Western Conference with a 15-24 record. However, with Lillard, they still could have gone on a run and made some noise in the playoffs. Without him, their playoff chances are pretty much dead and the team should sell off any assets that they can.
The Los Angeles Lakers can capitalize and by making a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Any stubbornness that the Blazers might have had about trading certain assets will be gone if they do not expect Lillard to return this season. While the Lakers are still going to have to compete with other teams in the trade market, some players that could be traded might not have been on the block otherwise.
And no, there is no Damian Lillard trade for the Los Angeles Lakers to make. Some Laker fans are still holding onto the pipe dream that the Lakers can somehow trade for Lillard. It is not happening.