Damian Lillard, superstar in Portland, has decided to extend with the Trail Blazers for two seasons. James Harden will also sign a new lease with Philadelphia, with a big pay cut.
For the first time since 2013, Portland did not play in the play-offs, Damian Lillard only played 29 games during the season due to injury, and his teammate CJ McCollum left for New Orleans during the winter. This could have been the moment for the soon to be 32-year-old leader (he will celebrate them next Friday) to turn a huge page and leave Oregon. But Damian Lillard has decided to stay true to the franchise that drafted him in 2012 in sixth position. According to US media, “Dame” has agreed with the Blazers to sign a two-year, $122 million contract extension until June 2027. Disturbed by pubalgia and operated on last January, Damian Lillard averaged 24 points, 7.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds this season with the Blazers, who finished thirteenth in the Western Conference. The franchise will now try to rebuild around its star, Anfernee Simmons, Jusuf Nurkic or even Jerami Grant, who arrived at the beginning of the month from Detroit.
Harden’s “sacrifice”
Another League superstar is set to sign a new two-year contract, albeit on different terms. This is James Harden, who arrived in Philadelphia this winter from Brooklyn. The rear or leader, who will turn 33 at the end of August, recently refused to validate his “player option” at 47.4 million dollars, in order to sign another contract. He will eventually extend two years with the 76ers, but for a lower salary of $ 15 million. The “bearded man” wants to win a first NBA championship title at all costs, and is ready to lower his salary to allow the Pennsylvania franchise to recruit other good players. In 21 games with Philadelphia, Harden averaged 21 points, 10.5 assists and 7.1 rebounds in the regular season and 18.6 points, 8.6 assists and 5.7 rebounds in 12 playoff games. but the 76ers were eliminated in the Conference Semifinals by Miami.
