4 reasons Raptors could contend for a championship with Damian Lillard
By Mike Luciano
![PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 28: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers shakes hands with the bench during the third quarter against the Toronto Raptors at the Moda Center on January 28, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. The Toronto Raptors won 123-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 28: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers shakes hands with the bench during the third quarter against the Toronto Raptors at the Moda Center on January 28, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. The Toronto Raptors won 123-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/d76979b126817e550ceaebc40e2d3187c576210fb0bdc8234d828d9b29e13a86.jpg)
2. Half-court excellence
The Raptors’ half-court offense under Nick Nurse went from one of the most effective units in the league to something so eye-bleedingly bad to watch that it was painful at times. The combination of a lack of shooting, poor creation, and a glacial pace ruined Toronto’s playoff odds.
Any team that has Lillard on the squad is going to play an exciting brand of basketball that features an up-tempo pace, tons of 3-point shots, and more razzle-dazzle than the feckless, stagnant showings Nurse put on last year. If Rajakovic lets him cook, Lillard could dominate in his new digs.
Damian Lillard will change the Toronto Raptors’ offense.
While Siakam can be trusted to make something out of nothing with the ball in his hands, even he must acknowledge that Lillard is several tiers above him in that area. Lillard can still get to the basket, make shots with defenders in his face, and set up his teammates.
Lillard will attract most of the defensive attention, leaving Siakam in more advantageous situations and names like Gary Trent Jr. wide open on the perimeter. The bench would suffer as a result of this trade, as would their collection of picks, but Toronto could pick for 10 years and never draft a player as good as Dame.