HoopsHype.com Rumors

Chris Haynes: #Blazers G Damian Lillard says he has developed a connection on the court with LaMarcus Aldridge, Meyers Leonard and J.J. Hickson thus far. Twitter @ChrisBHaynes

Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard, Meyers Leonard 

It does not seem as though Stotts has any intention of tempering enthusiasm for Lillard, who is on most NBA pundits' short lists for Rookie of the Year consideration. "What he did in Vegas wasn't a fluke," Stotts said of Lillard, who averaged 26.5 points, 5.6 assists and 4.0 rebounds at summer league. "He's very talented." Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

Joe Freeman: Stotts says the #Blazers starting lineup entering camp will be: Damian Lillard, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, LA and J.J. Hickson. Twitter @BlazerFreeman

Portland Trail Blazers, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, Damian Lillard 

But don't take his word for it. Listen to the players themselves, who told their own version of events on Twitter after Gaskins spoke. Young Sun Kendall Marshall said "I'm turnin my playa card in." Blazer top pick Damian Lillard declared: "This man @TonyGaskins is too real. Y'all need to get up on him. He just changed my life. #realrap" Harrison Barnes, Darius Johnson-Odom, Draymond Green, Jared Sullinger, Andre Drummond and Quincy Acy all tweeted similarly. ESPN.com

Harrison Barnes, Jared Sullinger, Andre Drummond, Damian Lillard, Draymond Green, Kendall Marshall, Darius Johnson-Odom, Quincy Acy, Tony Gaskins 

"It might take [the Blazers] one or two years," Lillard said. "But we saying, ‘Why not right now?’ Look at Oklahoma City: People said the same thing about them. Maybe not the championship, but why not make the playoffs now?" Salt Lake Tribune

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

Damian Lillard on getting in touch with LaMarcus Aldridge: Yeah, I've spoke to him like another teammate. We have each other's phone numbers and we text and we talk. Right now, all we want to do is get in the playoffs. That's the been the main thing we've talked about, is trying to get into the playoffs, because everybody is counting us as a young team. It might take us one or two years. But we saying, 'Why not right now?' Look at Oklahoma City: People said the same thing about them. Maybe not the championship, but why not make the playoffs now? We on the same page as far as winning. Salt Lake Tribune

Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard 

Jason Quick: By the way, Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry gushed about Blazers rookie PG Damian Lillard. "That kid is going to be great,'' Gentry said. Twitter

Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Alvin Gentry, Damian Lillard 

Chad Buchanan: In a best case scenario down the road, [Blazers GM] Neil [Olshey] has talked a lot about Chauncey Billups for Damian (Lillard). I think there are some similarities between those two guys and their temperament. Good pick and roll players. Not elite athletes but good enough athletes. Blazers Edge

Portland Trail Blazers, Neil Olshey, Chad Buchanan, Chauncey Billups, Damian Lillard 

Chris Haynes: #Blazers G Damian Lillard has been named co-MVP of the 2012 NBA Summer League. He shares the award with Memphis' Josh Selby. Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, Summer League, Josh Selby, Damian Lillard 

Justin Verrier: And your Las Vegas Summer League "All-Stars": Josh Selby, Damian Lillard, Malcolm Thomas, Bradley Beal, Tobias Harris, John Henson (1/2) Twitter

Summer League, John Henson, Tobias Harris, Bradley Beal, Malcolm Thomas, Josh Selby, Damian Lillard 

Joe Freeman: Goran Dragic, once considered a prime free agent target of #Blazers, will no longer be pursued. They drafted Lillard No. 6 to be the guy. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Goran Dragic, Damian Lillard 

Weber State’s Damian Lillard, taken with the sixth pick in the NBA draft, will likely be Portland’s starting point guard as a rookie next season. “At the sixth selection, we felt like we found our franchise point guard,” new general manager Neil Olshey told the assembled media. Portland Tribune

Portland Trail Blazers, Draft, Neil Olshey, Damian Lillard 

Chris Haynes: Nolan Smith on Olshey calling Lillard a franchise player: "Welcome to the NBA, the world of ultimate competition. I'm ready 4 Summer League" Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Draft, Neil Olshey, Nolan Smith, Damian Lillard 

Alex Kennedy: This time last year, Damian Lillard was projected as a 2nd-rounder. He worked hard and had huge season at Weber State to climb draft boards. Twitter

Draft, Damian Lillard 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Portland understands: Unless it drafts Damian Lillard at No. 6, he won't be there at 11. Paul Allen is enamored with the point guard. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Draft, Paul Allen, Damian Lillard 

Adrian Wojnarowski: If Austin Rivers and Damian Lillard are gone at 10, the Hornets are strongly leaning toward center Meyers Leonard, league sources tell Y! Twitter

New Orleans Hornets, Adrian Wojnarowski, Austin Rivers, Damian Lillard, Meyers Leonard 

Now, instantly, he will go in the lottery, with a good chance for the top half of the lottery. With the level of competition he played against in the Big Sky -- where he rolled up 24.5 points a game, second in the nation in scoring -- people will wonder. Not NBA people -- it's easy to find backers in front offices, like the executive who said, "If you can play, you can play. Enough guys have come from bad situations or small schools. And he can play." But Lillard knows the doubts and knows he has a lot to prove. "It doesn't bother me because it's a valid opinion," he said. "I can see why somebody could say it. It's different levels and you have guys competing against players that are [well known]. They've been playing against them all year and I haven't. I think it just gives me something else to gain. It's something else that I can prove and get more people on my side." NBA.com

Draft, Damian Lillard 

Curry played at Davidson, Stuckey at Eastern Washington. Both ended up as lottery picks. "A lot of people may say I didn't play against the best players in college," Lillard said. "They'll probably knock me because of that, because I didn't go to a major school and play on TV all the time. But I think that they'll eventually see that I belong. They'll see the type of person I am and they'll warm up to me. NBA.com

Draft, Damian Lillard 

Sources are telling me that the Kings are still in "wait and see mode." They really like Thomas Robinson and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, but if neither player is available at #5 (completely possible), then they will most likely choose between the grouping of Dion Waiters, Damian Lillard and North Carolina big man John Henson. Sulia

Sacramento Kings, Draft, John Henson, Thomas Robinson, Damian Lillard, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Dion Waiters 

Jason Jones: In spite all Lillard love/chatter now hearing it's unlikely he ends up in Sacramento. Boy this is fun :-) Twitter

Sacramento Kings, Draft, Damian Lillard