What to expect from the Portland Trail Blazers In the offseason

Besides hiring a new head coach, it is safe to expect Damian Lillard remaining a member of the Portland Trail Blazers in the offseason. Sources have told NBA Analysis Network that Portland does not want to trade their star player even though multiple teams have already been trying to put together trade packages for their 6x All-Star. 

Lillard is going to remain in Portland through the offseason, barring some drastic, catastrophic change with the organization’s philosophy, and he will continue to be the leader and focal point of this team. However, the future of C.J. McCollum is definitely up-in-the-air at this point. 

McCollum is now 29-years-old and has three-years, $100M remaining on his contract, making him less valuable on the trade market than many would imagine. Trading for a guy with $100M still remaining on his contract is tough to do, which is why some teams that would be thought to have interest in C.J. McCollum may not be interested in trading for him this offseason. 

Overall, Portland is much better off keeping C.J. McCollum, especially since there is not a whole lot of value to replace him this offseason. Both Lillard and McCollum are not the problem with this Portland team, which is why they should not be the talking points for this organization in the offseason. 

READ MORE: NBA Rumors: Trail Blazers could trade big man Jusuf Nurkic this offseason

Portland needs to find ways to better themselves defensively because over the last two to three years, they have been steadily declining on that end of the floor, allowing their opponents to score with ease. Defense was their ultimate downfall in the playoffs this year and unless they address this end of the floor, they will be doomed for more playoff disappointment in 2022.