• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Cold Wire

  • Home
  • Sports News
  • NFL
    • Arizona Cardinals
    • Atlanta Falcons
    • Baltimore Ravens
    • Buffalo Bills
    • Carolina Panthers
    • Chicago Bears
    • Cincinnati Bengals
    • Cleveland Browns
    • Dallas Cowboys
    • Denver Broncos
    • Detroit Lions
    • Green Bay Packers
    • Houston Texans
    • Indianapolis Colts
    • Jacksonville Jaguars
    • Kansas City Chiefs
    • Las Vegas Raiders
    • Los Angeles Chargers
    • Los Angeles Rams
    • Miami Dolphins
    • Minnesota Vikings
    • New England Patriots
    • New Orleans Saints
    • New York Giants
    • New York Jets
    • Philadelphia Eagles
    • Pittsburgh Steelers
    • San Francisco 49ers
    • Seattle Seahawks
    • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    • Tennessee Titans
    • Washington Commanders
  • MLB
    • Arizona Diamondbacks
    • Atlanta Braves
    • Baltimore Orioles
    • Boston Red Sox
    • Chicago Cubs
    • Chicago White Sox
    • Cincinnati Reds
    • Cleveland Guardians
    • Colorado Rockies
    • Detroit Tigers
    • Houston Astros
    • Kansas City Royals
    • Los Angeles Angels
    • Los Angeles Dodgers
    • Miami Marlins
    • Milwaukee Brewers
    • Minnesota Twins
    • New York Mets
    • New York Yankees
    • Oakland Athletics
    • Philadelphia Phillies
    • Pittsburgh Pirates
    • San Diego Padres
    • San Francisco Giants
    • Seattle Mariners
    • St. Louis Cardinals
    • Tampa Bay Rays
    • Texas Rangers
    • Toronto Blue Jays
    • Washington Nationals
  • NBA
    • Atlanta Hawks
    • Boston Celtics
    • Brooklyn Nets
    • Charlotte Hornets
    • Chicago Bulls
    • Cleveland Cavaliers
    • Dallas Mavericks
    • Denver Nuggets
    • Detroit Pistons
    • Golden State Warriors
    • Houston Rockets
    • Indiana Pacers
    • Los Angeles Clippers
    • Los Angeles Lakers
    • Memphis Grizzlies
    • Miami Heat
    • Milwaukee Bucks
    • Minnesota Timberwolves
    • New Orleans Pelicans
    • New York Knicks
    • Oklahoma City Thunder
    • Orlando Magic
    • Philadelphia 76ers
    • Phoenix Suns
    • Portland Trailblazers
    • Sacramento Kings
    • San Antonio Spurs
    • Toronto Raptors
    • Utah Jazz
    • Washington Wizards
  • Entertainment
  • About

The Cold Wire

Breaking News, Sports, Entertainment, TV, Tech ...

  • Home
  • Sports News
  • NFL
    • Arizona Cardinals
    • Atlanta Falcons
    • Baltimore Ravens
    • Buffalo Bills
    • Carolina Panthers
    • Chicago Bears
    • Cincinnati Bengals
    • Cleveland Browns
    • Dallas Cowboys
    • Denver Broncos
    • Detroit Lions
    • Green Bay Packers
    • Houston Texans
    • Indianapolis Colts
    • Jacksonville Jaguars
    • Kansas City Chiefs
    • Las Vegas Raiders
    • Los Angeles Chargers
    • Los Angeles Rams
    • Miami Dolphins
    • Minnesota Vikings
    • New England Patriots
    • New Orleans Saints
    • New York Giants
    • New York Jets
    • Philadelphia Eagles
    • Pittsburgh Steelers
    • San Francisco 49ers
    • Seattle Seahawks
    • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    • Tennessee Titans
    • Washington Commanders
  • MLB
    • Arizona Diamondbacks
    • Atlanta Braves
    • Baltimore Orioles
    • Boston Red Sox
    • Chicago Cubs
    • Chicago White Sox
    • Cincinnati Reds
    • Cleveland Guardians
    • Colorado Rockies
    • Detroit Tigers
    • Houston Astros
    • Kansas City Royals
    • Los Angeles Angels
    • Los Angeles Dodgers
    • Miami Marlins
    • Milwaukee Brewers
    • Minnesota Twins
    • New York Mets
    • New York Yankees
    • Oakland Athletics
    • Philadelphia Phillies
    • Pittsburgh Pirates
    • San Diego Padres
    • San Francisco Giants
    • Seattle Mariners
    • St. Louis Cardinals
    • Tampa Bay Rays
    • Texas Rangers
    • Toronto Blue Jays
    • Washington Nationals
  • NBA
    • Atlanta Hawks
    • Boston Celtics
    • Brooklyn Nets
    • Charlotte Hornets
    • Chicago Bulls
    • Cleveland Cavaliers
    • Dallas Mavericks
    • Denver Nuggets
    • Detroit Pistons
    • Golden State Warriors
    • Houston Rockets
    • Indiana Pacers
    • Los Angeles Clippers
    • Los Angeles Lakers
    • Memphis Grizzlies
    • Miami Heat
    • Milwaukee Bucks
    • Minnesota Timberwolves
    • New Orleans Pelicans
    • New York Knicks
    • Oklahoma City Thunder
    • Orlando Magic
    • Philadelphia 76ers
    • Phoenix Suns
    • Portland Trailblazers
    • Sacramento Kings
    • San Antonio Spurs
    • Toronto Raptors
    • Utah Jazz
    • Washington Wizards
  • Entertainment
  • About
You are here: Home / Sports / NBA / Should The Trail Blazers Try To Tank Now?

Should The Trail Blazers Try To Tank Now?

January 25, 2022
By Brandon Marcus
@JumpBallBrandon
Leave a Comment
Follow Brandon Marcus on Google News Follow Us

Head coach Chauncey Billups of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on January 15, 2022 in Washington, DC.
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

 

It’s safe to say that the Portland Trail Blazers aren’t having the season they were hoping for.

They are currently 10th in the West with a record of 20-26.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, they have lost their best player, Damian Lillard, due to abdominal surgery.

He will be out for at least six to eight weeks due to the surgery, although he recently told the media that he was “not in a rush” to return to the court.

Damian Lillard: "My No. 1 goal is to win a championship, and I’ve got to be the best form of myself to make that happen and be a part of it. So I’m not in a rush. We’ll talk about whatever that timeline is whenever we get to that point.”

— Sean Highkin (@highkin) January 22, 2022

This came on the heels of losing CJ McCollum for a spell because of his own injuries.

It also follows multiple scandals and dysfunction between the team and the front office.

All of this leads us to one question: should the Blazers just throw in the towel, give up on this season, and start tanking now?

 

Time To Tank

At the end of the day, it really is smart if Portland just considers this season a loss and starts officially tanking.

Why should they do this?

Well, because the chances of them achieving a turnaround are near impossible and they need to do everything they can to keep Lillard secure on the team.

Look at the rest of the Western Conference – it’s incredibly competitive this year.

It’s so rough in the West that even LeBron James has a chance at missing the postseason.

Between the Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, and Utah Jazz, the top of the West is pretty well spoken for so Portland would have to let Lillard heal while somehow staying competitive without him.

After that, they’d need to struggle their way through the early rounds of the playoffs to even make the Western Conference Finals.

Think about it: does that seem possible or is it something of a pipe dream?

A smarter choice would be to give up on this season with hopes that the next one is better.

Let the remainder of a season be a time for bench players to enhance their skills and for the coaching staff to find lineups that work.

This plan would allow everyone to heal and recover from their various ailments and would also let the Blazers drop down in the rankings – but up in their chances of landing good draft picks.

In the end, it’s a win-win and really what the team ultimately needs.

 

Keep Dame Happy

The real goal of the Blazers right now is to keep Lillard satisfied and willing to stick around with the team for another year.

Based on how the season has gone so far, it’s very unlikely that he’s happy.

But he might be willing to hang around longer if he knows there are sizable draft picks coming – and maybe a possibly great trade package too.

Damian Lillard addressed media today for the first time since surgery.

-He feels good and doctors say all signs are positive

-Hasn’t ruled out returning this season but will depend on where team is at. Seemed open to sitting out year if it’s clear plan is to play for draft pick pic.twitter.com/BfbMVPps6t

— Sean Highkin (@highkin) January 22, 2022

If the Blazers give up on this season and start tanking, they can give Lillard a better chance at landing some new talent in the draft and that might be what he needs to recommit to another season.

If Lillard really believes that next year will be better than this one, he will remain a Blazer.

And that’s truly what the team needs more than anything.

    Get ALL the latest NBA news straight to your inbox! Subscribe to the Cold Wire NBA newsletter here!    

Filed Under: NBA, Portland Trailblazers Rumors And News (Updated Daily) Tagged With: Portland Trail Blazers

About Brandon Marcus

Brandon has been enjoying NBA basketball since before he knew his ABCs. A product of too many comic books and cartoons, he finds a lot of passion in many things including reading, film, music, and enjoying too many cups of coffee.

Suggest a correction

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow The Cold Wire!

More Portland Trail Blazers News

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Moda Center on January 12, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. The Cleveland Cavaliers won 119-113.

Damian Lillard Joined An Elite NBA Club

13 hours ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers in action against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on December 17, 2022 in Houston, Texas.

Damian Lillard Matched Efficient NBA History Wednesday Night

16 hours ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates as he points to his wrist after scoring a three-pot basket in the closing seconds of the game against Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on October 23, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

Damian Lillard Continues To Climb An All-Time List

3 days ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Moda Center on January 22, 2023 in Portland, Oregon.

The Trail Blazers Are Still Committed To Their Superstar

3 days ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Moda Center on January 22, 2023 in Portland, Oregon.

NBA Analyst Believes The Trail Blazers Need A Change

4 days ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Moda Center on January 12, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. The Cleveland Cavaliers won 119-113.

Damian Lillard Is Once Again Leading His Team

1 week ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts to making a three point basket during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Moda Center on December 10, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. The Portland Trail Blazers won 124-118.

Damian Lillard Looks Like His Old Self Again

2 weeks ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers goes up for a basket during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on December 19, 2022 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

NBA Players Are Repeatedly Having Very Big Games

2 weeks ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers in action against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on December 17, 2022 in Houston, Texas.

Damian Lillard Opens Up About Another Tough Loss

2 weeks ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers in action against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on December 17, 2022 in Houston, Texas. 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.

Damian Lillard Comments On Whether He Is The Best Player In Blazers History

1 month ago

Head coach Chauncey Billups listens to Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on November 23, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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.

Chauncey Billups Gives His Thoughts On Damian Lillard Becoming Franchise Scoring Leader

1 month ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers in action against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on December 17, 2022 in Houston, Texas. 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.

Damian Lillard Explains His Relationship With Younger Teammates

1 month ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts to making a three point basket during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Moda Center on December 10, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. The Portland Trail Blazers won 124-118.

Damian Lillard Led His Trail Blazers

1 month ago

Anfernee Simons #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers brings the ball up court in the fourth quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on November 09, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Trail Blazers Have An Impressive Rising Star

2 months ago

Head coach Chauncey Billups and Anfernee Simons #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers talk during the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Moda Center on October 21, 2022 in Portland, Oregon.

Rising Trail Blazers Star Has Stepped Up

2 months ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates as he points to his wrist after scoring a three-pot basket in the closing seconds of the game against Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on October 23, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

Damian Lillard Speaks About Staying With The Trail Blazers

2 months ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts during the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Moda Center on November 17, 2022 in Portland, Oregon.

The Trail Blazers Are Ready For Their All-Star's Return

2 months ago

Head coach Chauncey Billups of the Portland Trail Blazers talks with Anfernee Simons #1 during the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Moda Center on November 17, 2022 in Portland, Oregon.

Trail Blazers Rising Star Has Become A Three-Point Machine

2 months ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts during the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Moda Center on November 17, 2022 in Portland, Oregon.

The Trail Blazers Get An Update On Their Biggest Star

2 months ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers drives to the basket against Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Charlotte Hornets in the fourth quarter at Spectrum Center on November 09, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Things Got Testy Between The Trail Blazers & Hornets

3 months ago

Josh Hart #11 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates with teammates after making the game winning basket against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at FTX Arena on November 07, 2022 in Miami, Florida.

The Trail Blazers Are Celebrating Each Other

3 months ago

Josh Hart #11 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates after hitting the game winning shot against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at FTX Arena on November 07, 2022 in Miami, Florida.

The Trail Blazers Ended Monday Night With A Bang

3 months ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers dribbles the ball during the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Moda Center on October 24, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. The Portland Trail Blazers won 135-110.

The Trail Blazers Could Be Without Their Two Biggest Players

3 months ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates as he points to his wrist after scoring a three-pot basket in the closing seconds of the game against Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on October 23, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

3 Reasons To Watch The Trail Blazers This Season

3 months ago

Primary Sidebar

Search The Cold Wire

Footer

Privacy Policy

Terms and Conditions

Editorial Guidelines

Contact Us

Sitemap

Advertise

Follow us on

Copyright © 2023  ColdWireMedia · ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ·TheColdWire.com

Suggest a Correction

Should The Trail Blazers Try To Tank Now?

1000 characters remaining