Portland Trail Blazers Leaning Towards Shutting Down Their Biggest Star

The Portland Trail Blazers began 2022/23 as one of the hottest teams in the Western Conference, but after injuries and inconsistencies caught up to them, they fell off in a big way, with no chance of even sniffing the playoffs at this point.

Unsurprisingly, they'll now be looking towards the 2023 NBA Draft, and acquiring the highest possible pick, and that means the team have now been leaning towards shutting down Damian Lillard for the rest of the season, as he is dealing with a calf injury.

Blazers are "leaning toward shutting down" Damian Lillard for the remainder of the season, per @ShamsCharania

Lillard is dealing with a calf injury pic.twitter.com/tRXgWVCrkY

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 25, 2023

If the season is done for Dame, he will end the year averaging 32 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists, and if the team can finally put the right talent around him, then 2023/24 could finally be the year they make a deep playoff run.

Photo Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports