Shaquille O’Neal details why Damian Lillard deserves the chance to be traded by Blazers to play for a “contender”

Shaquille O’Neal, NBA Hall of Famer and sports analyst, recently made headlines for suggesting that the Portland Trail Blazers should trade their star player Damian Lillard to a title contender. O’Neal believes that the organization should “do him a solid” and use Lillard as a way to acquire younger pieces that can help the team rebuild.

Lillard, who has been with the Trail Blazers since 2012, has been a consistent elite performer for the team. However, despite his impressive numbers, the Blazers have never made it past the Conference Finals. O’Neal’s recommendation comes at a time when the Trail Blazers are struggling to stay afloat in the Western Conference, with a 29-33 record.

“The organization should do him a solid and trade him to a contender,” Shaq said on The Big Podcast. “They should use him to get younger pieces because they’re never gonna win there. I would do that if I was management.”

While O’Neal may view a potential trade as a way to benefit Lillard, the All-Star point guard seems content with his current situation. Lillard has been known for his intense loyalty to the Trail Blazers organization and has never publicly requested a trade. However, it remains to be seen if the organization will take O’Neal’s advice and consider trading Lillard.

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Lillard’s performance and impact on the Trail Blazers

Despite the recent trade rumors, Damian Lillard continues to perform at an elite level for the Trail Blazers. On February 26, 2023, he had a career-high game against the Houston Rockets, scoring an astonishing 71 points in a win for the Blazers.

Lillard’s impressive numbers this season have been critical to the Trail Blazers’ success. He is currently averaging 32.1 points per game, 7.2 assists per game, and 4.3 rebounds per game. Despite the team’s struggles, Lillard has consistently shown up and delivered clutch performances when it matters most.

The Trail Blazers organization has always recognized Lillard’s value, as evidenced by their decision to sign him to a four-year, $176 million supermax contract extension in 2019. The extension ensured that Lillard would remain with the team until at least the end of the 2024-2025 NBA season.

Shaquille O’Neal’s suggestion that the Trail Blazers trade Damian Lillard to a title contender has sparked conversation among NBA analysts and fans alike. However, Lillard’s impressive performances and loyalty to the Trail Blazers organization indicate that he is content with his current situation. Regardless of the trade rumors, Lillard’s impact on the Trail Blazers and the league as a whole remains undeniable.

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