HoopsHype.com Rumors

Muhammad says he had a feeling the Trail Blazers would be in his ballpark before the 2012-13 NBA season concluded. So he reached out to Trail Blazers franchise point guard Damian Lillard when they were in town to take on the Clippers, and Muhammad says in that conversation, the possibility of them playing together in the NBA came up. CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Draft, Damian Lillard, Shabazz Muhamadd 

Jeff Zillgitt: NBA All-Rookie first-team: Damian Lillard (unanimous), Bradley Beal, Anthony Davis, Dion Watiers, Harrison Barnes. Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Harrison Barnes, Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard, Dion Waiters 

Jason Quick: Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard and GM Neil Olshey will represent the Blazers at the Draft Lottery on May 21. Lillard will be on stage. Twitter @jwquick

Portland Trail Blazers, Draft, Neil Olshey, Damian Lillard 

Damian Lillard - Chip on shoulder: "I came into the Draft process with a huge chip on my shoulder just because of the situation I come from. I'm from Oakland, I didn't get recruited heavily out of high school, I went to a mid-major at Weber State, I didn't get a lot of attention until my last year in school. I felt like I had a lot to prove. Once I did that, I started to get some respect. I got drafted sixth overall, and I knew it was up to me to make something of it. I had a huge chip because of the situation I came from." Blazers Edge

Portland Trail Blazers, Draft, Damian Lillard 

Nicolas Batum: No way @Damian Lillard should be ROY, we should recount the votes lol....congrats bro well deserved #10times Twitter @nicolas88batum

Portland Trail Blazers, Nicolas Batum, Damian Lillard 

“When people say stuff about my defense, it bothers me,’’ Lillard said. “And I’m aware of it. It drives me. It lights a fire under me.’’ If that attitude and drive doesn’t convince Trail Blazers fans that the franchise is in good hands, maybe this will: The wheels are already in motion for Lillard to workout and study defense this summer under the tutelage of the greatest defensive point guard ever, Hall of Famer Gary Payton. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

“He said ‘I want to help you,’ ’’ Lillard said of Payton. “He said it would take time for me to become a defender, but he said I have everything to become one. So this will be the summer where I get in the gym with him and try to learn from him.’’ Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Gary Payton, Damian Lillard 

Andre Drummond: Congrats to my boy @Damian Lillard on getting rookie of the year! Great season bro! instagram.com/p/Yyfx2oyMY8/ Twitter @DRE_DRUMMOND_

Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Andre Drummond, Damian Lillard 

Bradley Beal: Congrats on ROY @Damian Lillard ! Well deserved, keep grindin' !! Twitter @RealDealBeal23

Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Wizards, Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard 

The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to announce Wednesday that guard Damian Lillard has been named the NBA's 2013 Rookie of the Year. The team sent out a press release noting a "major announcement with the NBA" for Wednesday afternoon at the Rose Garden. Blazers Edge

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

Chris Tomasson: Looks like Lillard will get his Rookie of the Year award for Portland on Wednesday. Twitter @christomasson

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

Howard Beck: Chris Copeland (East) and Damian Lillard (West) named Rookies of the Month. Twitter @HowardBeckNYT

New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard, Chris Copeland 

Mike Tokito: Lillard joins phenomenal company in sweeping ROM -- Sampson, Robinson, Duncan, CP3, LeBron, Melo and Griffin. Twitter @mtokito

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

Hopes for next season: Damian Lillard: "I want to be an All-Star next season," he said. "I want to help our team make the playoffs next season. That's pretty much it. I want our team to compete at a higher level next year." Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

Chris Haynes: Damian Lillard says he doesn't know if he'll play Summer League or not. His people told me his is NOT playing Summer League. Twitter @ChrisBHaynes

Portland Trail Blazers, Summer League, Damian Lillard 

Joe Freeman: #Blazers Damian Lillard said he plans on competing for Team USA this summer and participating in Basketball Without Borders. Twitter @BlazerFreeman

Portland Trail Blazers, Team USA, Damian Lillard 

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard has accepted Team USA Men's Basketball National Team mini camp invite, his agent Eric Goodwin informed CSNNW.com. Director of USA Basketball Jerry Colangelo told CSNNW.com in late February that he had his eyes on Lillard as a participant candidate, but added that he hadn't decided yet. Colangelo eventually did reach out to the soon-to-be Rookie of the Year and he got a commitment. “I just can't wait to go be a part of it,” Lillard said. “I'm going to go out there and try to prove something.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, USA Basketball, Team USA, Damian Lillard 

Q: Were you surprised that the team was in playoff contention for so long? Paul Allen: “I think everybody was. For example, Damian is a better player than we even anticipated. I think I said this before the draft. So that was good. The way to team gelled and played a different style, with more flow, more movement, style of basketball, that was encouraging to see. Now, here in the latter part of the season, our defense has not been up to the standards we want to have in the future. So we’re going to have to look at different ways to explore improving that for next season.” Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, Damian Lillard 

He played it from when he was a young boy to age 14, and still reminisces about it with his brother. Especially now that his NBA dreams have become a reality. “There’s a Drake song where he says, ‘Started from the bottom, now we’re here,’” Lillard said, referring to the popular hip hop artist. “People always quote that song on social networks and stuff, and me and (Houston) always talk about it. It’s like, we really started from the bottom. We really did. That’s where it all started for me.” Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

What more can the kid do? Well, in the offseason, he'll turn his attention to the recruiting circuit in hopes of convincing free agents to why Portland is a prime destination to move to. “It depends on what our team is going to need, but if I like a player that is on the market and I know he has interest, of course I'm going to reach out to them,” Lillard said. “I'm going to do what I can to help the team get better.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Damian Lillard