The Trail Blazers’ team building ideas are extremely unclear. Is Lillard’s operation incomprehensible?

Portland Trail Blazers reporter Mike Richman and Washington Post reporter Ben Golliver co-hosted a podcast program, during which Ben Golliver also talked about a series of complex team building situations of the Trail Blazers.

Golliver said: Maybe I would say it more directly. I personally don’t like the Trail Blazers to welcome Damian Lillard’s operation back, because in my opinion, the team’s idea of building a team is very vague. For the pioneers, they seem to be more inclined to maintain a fun atmosphere than to rush to rebuild. They will hope that fans will be excited about Yang Hansen’s performance, such as the wonderful passes and European steps he showed during the summer league. From this perspective, I think this is a healthy environment that will help Yang Hansen's future growth and development.

Golliver continued: But the problem is that the future of the pioneers is full of various uncertainties. Fans are very excited about the team, but the management seems hesitant to deal with Lillard's multi-year contract issue, and they give him a three-year contract of $24 million. In fact, buying out DeAndre Ayton, sending off Anfernee Simons and choosing Yang Hansen are all good operations, and they are clearly operations to consider for the long-term development of the team. But I really can't understand why they want to welcome Lillard back? Although Lillard made it clear that he would be willing to coach young players and take on roles similar to an assistant coach, the team’s real goals in this operation didn’t seem clear.

In the NBA regular season last season, Lillard played 58 games in 82 games, averaging 36.1 minutes per game, averaging 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.2 blocks, and 2.8 turnovers and 1.7 fouls, shooting percentage of 44.8%, three-point shooting percentage of 37.6%, and free throw shooting percentage of 92.1%. In the playoffs, Lillard played 3 games in total, with averaging 24.9 minutes per game, averaging 7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks, and a turnover and 2.7 fouls. His shooting percentage was 22.2%, a three-point shooting percentage of 18.8%, and a free throw shooting percentage of 85.7%. Lillard's performance last season was actually quite average, and his condition during the playoffs was even more disaster-like. In addition, Lillard suffered a serious injury to a laceration during the playoffs, and Lillard has been reimbursed in advance next season, and it is unknown whether he can remain in shape after his return. Golliver's statement is not unreasonable. The Trail Blazers have been in a state of hesitation these past few seasons, and this is the biggest problem.