Damian Lillard Says He Plans to Retire with Blazers: 'We'll Have a Chance to Win'

If you didn't hear it the first two times, it's because Damian said it over and over again.

He wants to finish his career in Portland.

On the Dave Pasch Show, he said, "Yes, I do." I have had people tell me you need to get out of there. You need to do that. I am the type of person that will never march to the beat of a drummer. I will always do what I think is in my best interest.

"I have said this many times, they call it 'He's being loyal!' and 'Loyalty this, loyalty that', but I do have a level of loyalty to the organization." I don't get beside myself because I believe what I believe and I'm loyal to who I am. I believe I can complete it. Everybody else will say there is no way the Blazers will win. They must do that. I don't feel that way about the situation. I feel like we will have a chance to win and that will come, I feel like that will happen. That is all.

The two-year, $122 million extension that the Portland Trail blazers signed in July could keep him with the team through the 27th century. He will be either 36 or 37 by the time his contract is up, so it's almost certain that he will have spent his entire career with the Trail blazers.

The Portland team finished with a dismal 27-55 record in the 21st century, as they missed out on 53 games due to injury. He didn't play at least 66 games in his career.

The Portland Trail blazers overhauled their roster with their star on the mend, dumping several veterans from the roster in moves that appeared to signal a full scale rebuild. While the additions of Jerami Grant and Gary Payton II will add some much-needed athleticism on the defensive perimeter, this is the worst on-paper Portland roster ever assembled.

The prize of last year's down season, Shaedon Sharpe, is one of the rawest prospects in the lottery and is likely a couple years away from significant contribution.

There is no obvious path to reach the goal of winning a championship in the near future according to the player. It is possible that he decided that he would prefer to be a legend in Portland than a champion. In an era where players rarely have a true relationship with their city, it is admirable that he is free to do that.

When he gets to training camp, he may start to realize how bare the cupboard are around him.