The Trail Blazers came into this year's NBA Draft Lottery with 9 percent odds to get the No. 1 overall pick, but they left disappointed with No. 7.
Perhaps no one was more disappointed than Damian Lillard, who was a team ambassador after playing in just 29 games last season before being shut down with an abdominal injury. When the Blazers' pick was announced, Lillard couldn't keep his face up.
This is a man going through a lot of frustration in real time.
Damian Lillard’s reaction to the Trail Blazers falling to 7th in the #NBADraftLottery pic.twitter.com/KDy5Z9Z4qM
— Aaron J. Fentress (@AaronJFentress) May 18, 2022
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The Blazers, of course, blew up their roster at the trade deadline last year. They traded C.J. McCollum to the Pelicans, and sent Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the Clippers. With the Pelicans' first-round pick converting to the Hornets at 15, the Blazers missed that trade by a spot. They'll reap almost no benefits from those trades this year, capping off a frustrating 27-55 season.
The Kings will pick ahead of the Blazers despite finishing ahead of them in the standings.
Lillard's reaction is more animated, but reminiscent of Jerry West's reaction to missing out on LeBron James in the 2003 draft lottery.
my annual tradition of observing the moment that jerry west's soul died on national television pic.twitter.com/e8ftF8HaSv
— J. Kyle Mann (@jkylemann) May 17, 2022
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Lillard has repeatedly preached his commitment to Portland, and he may well stay this offseason. But if he does, he has to know reinforcements aren't really coming. At least not via the draft. There are up to five blue-chip prospects in this year's lottery, and the Blazers are on the outside looking in right now.
