RealGM Basketball Wiretap

21 March 2023

• Blazers Haven't Considered Firing Chauncey Billups

  Chauncey Billups said he doesn't have any fear over losing his job as the Portland Trail Blazers head coach after the team's struggles this season.

  "I don't worry about that, at all. We have our talks and everything, and that will remain between us, but I don't worry about that at all," said Billups about his relationship with general manager Joe Cronin.

  Billups is 58-94 during his time as the Blazers head coach.

  Billups has drawn key endorsements from Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, and Jerami Grant.

  A source within the Blazers front office added that there have been no discussions over firing Billups, saying that the idea "hasn't even crossed our minds."

• Blazers Could Shut Down Damian Lillard If They Don't Gain Ground Over Next 5-6 Games

  The Portland Trail Blazers could shut Damian Lillard down if they slide out of the play-in picture over the next week or two. The Blazers enter Friday's slate of games 2.5 out of 10th with both the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans ahead of them in 11th and 12th.

  "I'll say this: Dame probably has five or six more games left before Portland probably shuts him down for the season," said Chris Haynes on the #ThisLeague Uncut Podcast. "There's no use playing the duration of these games. So look out for that. If these next five, six games, they keep struggling, I will suspect...

  "He's going to be okay with that? He's been really fighting the notion of playing for draft picks"

  "He's going to have to be okay if they're not in contention to jump in that play-in. At that point, it's probably not worth it. That's why I'm saying these next five, six games, we'll see if they can make some ground. If they don't make any ground, I think that's what's going to happen. If the results are not that good."

  Lillard has bounced back from his abdominal surgery with an All-NBA caliber season, but the Blazers continue to struggle to build a contender around him.

• Ibou Badji Out At Least Eight Weeks With Left Knee Surgery

  Ibou Badji underwent successful left knee surgery Monday in Vancouver, WA. The arthroscopic patellar chondroplasty and debridement was performed by Portland Trail Blazers Team Physician Evan Ellis, MD of Rebound Orthopedics.

  Badji is expected to make a full recovery and will miss the next eight weeks.

• Damian Lillard On Staying With Blazers: I'm Willing To Die On That Hill

  Damian Lillard is running out of ways to say that he doesn't want to leave the Portland Trail Blazers. But that doesn't stop the questions from coming about how long Lillard will stay with the only NBA team he's ever known.

  Lillard said he thinks about winning a title in Portland all the time, but that there's more to his career than winning a title.

  "If it didn't happen," he added, "I wouldn't feel good about it. But I'm always going to say that I'm invested in the journey, because there's a lot of moments that I'll cherish that I'll always appreciate whether I get there or not."

  For Lillard, that journey is as important as the end destination. And part of that journey remains staying committed to staying in Portland.

  "To that point," Lillard said, "I'm also willing to die on that hill."

• Damian Lillard Scores Career-Best 71 Points

  Damian Lillard scored a career-high 71 points in the Portland Trail Blazers' 131-114 win over the Houston Rockets.

  Lillard becomes the eighth different player to score 70 or more points in a game. He's also the oldest player to score 70 or more at the age of 32.

  "I enjoy those moments in the game when I'm just going after people," Lillard said, "when I'm in attack mode."

  Lillard's 13 3-pointers on 22 attempts were one shy of the NBA record set by Golden State's Klay Thompson in 2018.

  Lillard left the game with 44 seconds remaining in the game.

• WBD Abandoning RSNs With Rockets, Blazers, Jazz To Be Impacted

  Warner Bros. Discovery said Friday night that it is abandoning its regional sports network business.

  AT&T SportsNet has deals with the Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz in the NBA.

  The SportsNet announcement comes on the heels of news that Diamond Sports Group is also prepping to file for bankruptcy this spring. DSG owns and operates the Bally Sports regional networks and has the local television rights for over 40 MLB, NBA and NHL teams.

  While WBD is attempting to exit from the RSN business, they are also negotiating with the NBA on extending its national television deals.

• Damian Lillard Wins Three Point Shootout

  Damian Lillard won the 2023 Three Point Shootout, beating Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton in the final.

  Lillard had never won the contest, participating previously in 2014 and 2019.

  Lillard wore a Weber State uniform, representing his college located near Salt Lake City.

• Anfernee Simons Diagnosed With Grade 2 Ankle Sprain, No Date For Return

  Anfernee Simons was diagnosed with a grade 2 ankle sprain following an MRI on Thursday.

  There is no timetable for Simons' return.

• Anfernee Simons To Undergo MRI On Sprained Ankle

  Anfernee Simons will undergo an MRI on his right ankle.

  Simons sprained his ankle on Tuesday night and x-rays were negative.

  Simons is averaging 21.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 56 games this season for the Portland Trail Blazers.

• Warriors Approve Four-Team Trade Before Sunday Deadline

  The Golden State Warriors approved the four-team trade that sees them acquire Gary Payton II ahead of Sunday's 9:30 PM ET deadline.

  Golden State found a core muscle injury when completing Payton's physical. That put the trade in jeopardy of being finalized. The Warriors are reportedly working the NBA, as they believe the Portland Trail Blazers withheld key medical information during the process of completing the four-team trade.

  Once pushed through, Golden State will acquire Payton and two second-round picks. The Atlanta Hawks will acquire Saddiq Bey, while the Detroit Pistons will acquire James Wiseman. The Portland Trail Blazers will acquire Kevin Knox and five second-round picks.