HoopsHype.com Rumors

It's common for an NBA rookie's mom or close family member to live with him his first season. Such moves are typically reserved for players drafted after going pro following one or two years of college, not after four years away at school. But Lillard's agent, Aaron Goodwin, suggested that Johnson move in the first season to aid her son's NBA transition. Yahoo! Sports

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

As Lillard talked to the media after a 117-100 preseason loss to the Sacramento Kings on Monday, Johnson asked Blazers director of player programs Hersey Hawkins for information on a good handyman to fix things in the house. "She's not treating me like a little kid," Lillard said. "But she speaks her mind to me about what she feels is right or wrong. She'll say, 'You need to get some rest. You got practice tomorrow. You got games. It's a long season.' "I really take in the advice she gives me. It's helped me my whole life so I figured I should continue that." Yahoo! Sports

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

Chris Haynes: Kings head coach Keith Smart say he & Stotts are good friends. Says he's noticed how happy Stotts is having someone like Damian Lillard. Twitter @ChrisBHaynes

Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Coaching, Keith Smart, Damian Lillard, Terry Stotts 

Chris Haynes: Lakers G Steve Nash says he likes @Damian Lillard's poise out on the court. Says he can be a special player in this league. #Blazers Twitter @ChrisBHaynes

Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Steve Nash, Damian Lillard 

Chris Haynes: #Blazers G Damian Lillard on playing against top PG's first 6 games of season: "I'm going to make them show me why they are who they are." Twitter @ChrisBHaynes

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

Chris Haynes: So there you have it: @Nolan Smith and @Damian Lillard are getting pedicures together and loving it! Hey, I just report the news. #Blazers Twitter @ChrisBHaynes

Portland Trail Blazers, Nolan Smith, Damian Lillard 

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