Odds that Damian Lillard played the last game against the Blazers

Damian Lillard may have played his last game as the Portland Trail Blazer.

Lillard will undergo surgery to repair the abdominal wound that has persisted for a while. Lillard has been dealing with this injury since the Summer Olympics and has missed several games this season due to it.

At the moment, Lillard has no scheduled return and with the Blazers struggling as they are, it might be best to leave him out for the rest of the season.

Trade talks around Lillard have risen to an all-time high, especially with the possibility of a Ben Simmons trade for Damian Lillard. Over the years, Lillard has expressed his loyalty to the organization, but perhaps it’s time for both parties to go their separate ways when considering the franchise’s prospects.

Nothing has been reported as official yet, but let’s bet odds on whether Lillard would play his last game as a Blazer and state the case for each side.

Lillard will be back

It is always difficult to predict a particular transaction, even when the pieces are already arranged. Lillard’s superficial comments expressing his satisfaction with being in Portland make things a little more complicated. It wouldn’t be a great look if a small market team traded their best player after they said they wanted to stay.

The buzz around Lillard wanting to trade and/or the Blazers shopping him has grown, but there are other deals to make that could really bring talent to Portland. CJ McColllum could be the last piece of the puzzle to be shipped in to get Lillard a new side friend.

The Blazers have had a lot of injuries in the last few years, so maybe Portland decided to keep Lillard and try again.

Lillard won’t be back

Sometimes things happen for a reason and you just have to let life run its course. I think the Blazers and Lillard can figure out that the best thing they should do is break up. Unless the Blazers become the Celtics in 2008 and get two all-stars this season, they won’t win the championship.

The Trail Blazers are about to have a new general manager, a year into Chauncey Billups’ tenure and not the most attractive location for freelance agents. Everything is saying to shred it and start from scratch.

It would be odd to see Lillard in a different shirt, but there are plenty of “win-now” teams that will be heavyweights with Lillard going to have to give up a lot to get him. I think the Blazers know that and will act accordingly.