HoopsHype.com Rumors

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 

Fresh off a career-high 38 points Wednesday night, Trail Blazers rookie Damian Lillard joined the Dan Patrick Show Thursday to talk about his rookie season, his "welcome to the NBA" moment, and his pick for Rookie of the Year: Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

The NBA will announce today that Lillard has earned the league’s Kia Community Assist Award in recognition of his “outstanding efforts in the community, ongoing advocacy and charitable work.” Lillard is being honored by the NBA for his dedication to anti-bullying and role in the Blazers’ “Respect. Pass It On.” campaign. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

"I think guys are trying to play hard, I think guys just need to play smarter," Aldridge told Blazersedge. "I don't think tonight I question anyone playing hard. I definitely want guys to play smarter. We made some mistakes tonight that they didn't and they won the game." The split opinion between Portland's two most important veterans couldn't have been clearer. Rookie guard Damian Lillard, who finished with 11 points (on four-for-12 shooting), seven assists and three rebounds, played it mostly down the middle. "I think we're playing hard," he told Blazersedge. "I just think our urgency and -- I don't want to say heart, the word is probably desire to finish strong -- isn't where it should be. Our playoff hopes went down the drain and now it seems like we're just trying to get to the end of the season." Blazers Edge

Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard 

Ben Golliver: Lillard on the booing for no Chalupas: "I don't think they should have booed us but they've got every right to be disappointed." Twitter @blazersedge

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

The Toronto Raptors’ Jonas Valanciunas and the Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard today were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in March. Valanciunas ranked first among Eastern Conference rookies in rebounds (7.3 rpg), blocks (1.07 bpg), and field goal percentage (.620). He also ranked second in free throw percentage (.822) and fourth in scoring (11.4 ppg), reaching double figures in points in 11 of his last 12 games (March 6-31). Valanciunas is one of only two rookies (New Orleans’ Anthony Davis) in the NBA averaging at least 8.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and shooting 50 percent from the floor this season. CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Jonas Valanciunas, Damian Lillard 

I don't know what meaning to place on it, but the 3 players who dribble the ball more than anyone in the league are the Blazers' Damian Lillard, the Clippers' Chris Paul and the Hornets' Greivis Vasquez. Or so a GM with access to such analytics tells me. He told me offhandedly, and wasn't sure if Paul was second or fourth, but he was pretty certain those three at least were in the top four, although he couldn't recall who the fourth might be. Sulia

Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, Chris Paul, Greivis Vasquez, Damian Lillard 

The simple fact is, Lillard wants to win and he has bigger goals he wants to accomplish rather than just setting a three- point record. He feels he can be one of the very top players this league has to offer and he's on a mission to prove that. “I think I can be a first team All-NBA, I think I can be an All-Star, I think I can be an MVP,” Lillard told CSNNW.com. “That's just my opinion. I don't know when, but how I plan to work and how much better I want to be, I feel like anything is possible.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

The four-time/soon-to-be five-time Rookie of the Month has lofty expectations for himself and why not? No one thought he would be this good early on. “I'm not saying I deserve those things right now. That's not what I'm saying. What I am saying is that I set high standards for myself,” he said. “I'm not going to come out and try to force myself to be an MVP next season, I'm going to be myself and hopefully all the hard work that I put in will get me to that point. “I can get a lot better.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

Steve Luhm: Damian Lillard says Blazers won't quit down the stretch, despite "slim and none" chance to make the playoffs. Twitter @sluhm

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

Ben Golliver: Damian Lillard had words for referee(s) during game but nothing after: "No fouls were called so I guess they didn't happen." Twitter @blazersedge

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard 

A big factor in Lillard’s drop in turnovers has been the Blazers’ trade-deadline acquisition of Eric Maynor, who has become Lillard’s primary backup and has also frequently played alongside him. "It helps a lot," Lillard said recently. "I'm not exerting as much energy offensively or defensively, because he's taking that pressure off of me. … The defense can't just set up and get ready for me because I don't have the ball all the time coming up the court.” Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, Eric Maynor, Damian Lillard 

It's true that the pick Brooklyn surrendered in last season's Gerald Wallace trade became Damian Lillard, but it's a misnomer to flatly conclude that the Nets would have wound up with the overwhelming Rookie of the Year favorite instead of Portland had they simply kept the pick. It's believed that the Nets, if they hadn't dealt their lottery pick for Wallace, likely would have drafted Cavs big man Tyler Zeller at No. 6, since point guard -- with Deron Williams presumed to be re-signing -- wasn't a position of prime need. ESPN.com

Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, Draft, Tyler Zeller, Damian Lillard 

“The sky is the limit for Damian” in terms of endorsements, says Goodwin, who reps Lillard along with his brother, Eric Goodwin. “He’s a different type of athlete, a new genre — a blue-collar guy most people didn’t know about a year ago. He relates to the common man. People identify with him as opposed to somebody who was a superstar from day one. “Damian has played really well and established himself, so the market has been created for him. The next stage is the building of a real career. We’re looking for new opportunities for him, with the Cokes, the Gatorades, the McDonalds of the world. Those are the next step. It’s a process — and he realizes it’s a process — to build a portfolio that matches his personality.” Portland Tribune

Portland Trail Blazers, Agents, Damian Lillard 

That sounds good to Lillard, who, unlike teammate LaMarcus Aldridge, embraces the idea of helping to promote products and companies. “I hope to have some endorsements,” he says. “I’m a people type of guy. I’m a marketable guy. I have fun with that type of stuff. In a bigger market, there might be more money in it, but I’m not motivated by dollar signs. I just enjoy those type of things. I’d like to have a few national (endorsements), a couple of local things, also.” Portland Tribune

Portland Trail Blazers, Agents, Damian Lillard