“KD not coming to play for that poverty franchise”, “Portland going on an all-time, HoF tampering campaign” - Fans relentlessly mock Damian Lillard, Jusuf Nurkic for posting Kevin Durant’s photoshopped picture in Trail Blazers jersey
Damian Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic recently sent NBA fans into a frenzy. Nurkic posted Kevin Durant's photoshopped picture in a Portland Trail Blazers jersey on his social media account.
The Trail Blazers are retooling their roster around Lillard this offseason. Portland currently don't have any All-Stars aside from Lillard in their ranks. Jerami Grant has been their only marquee signing thus far, and adding a superstar could be the franchise's next move.
Dame’s IG story 👀 https://t.co/uPthgd2u28
Durant in a Trail Blazers jersey would make the Western Conference much more exciting. However, it's a deal that's unlikely to happen, leading fans to mock Lillard, Nurkic and the Trail Blazers.
One fan wrote on Twitter:
“KD not coming to play for that poverty franchise LMAO”
Another added:
“Portland going on an all-time, hof tampering campaign”
Here are some of the best reactions:
@bosnianbeast27 KD not coming to play for that poverty franchise LMAOOOOOOOOOO
Portland going on an all time , hof tampering campaign wtf is this LMAOOOOOLKL
@BleacherReport Warriors fans in shambles right now 😭 https://t.co/JZa1d7mF3A
@BleacherReport don’t worry i already snitched twitter.com/ratiobysteph/s…
Dame Lillard bored as hell
nurkic trying to recruit a guy who doesn't even follow him on twitter twitter.com/bosnianbeast27… https://t.co/qDfsMtn2KJ
Wtf is going on in that Blazers organization?? Somebody is giving out drugs bro twitter.com/bosnianbeast27… https://t.co/MHcNlWZl7b
I love how June / July is just nba fan fiction season twitter.com/bosnianbeast27…
NGL Lillard and KD would be dumb fun to watch. twitter.com/bosnianbeast27…
@BfromSv @bosnianbeast27 @pickuphoop https://t.co/yPOoSvumr8
@bosnianbeast27 KD don’t wanna play wit a dude who throws fans phones keep dreaming tho
@bosnianbeast27 Adam Silver after seeing this https://t.co/UhI5fvyX3e
@bosnianbeast27 Bro doesn’t realize he’s going in a trade package for him💀💀💀
@YourRAGEz Dame after getting fined 5 mil for tampering https://t.co/IOvQo4rXqz
@overtime @Dame_Lillard The entire western conference rn https://t.co/VKSpxbFvWF
These guys are just budgeting for tampering these days and I’m all for it. twitter.com/bleacherreport…
Dame Lillard on a quiet Saturday afternoon twitter.com/bleacherreport… https://t.co/a7UdnQDRd4
this the same dude that told PG that he ran from the grind 😭 twitter.com/bleacherreport…
Dame and Nurkic posting KD to Portland edits
https://t.co/v57TAzifVZ
Dame on IG for no reason https://t.co/XBpGG5crYK
@TheNBACentral And I want rihanna LMAOOO
@LegionHoops Portland already fumbled their first chance when they drafted Greg Oden over KD
@LegionHoops NBA Teams if this happens
https://t.co/yKPaRDduUr
@BleacherReport NBA players don’t even care about tampering fines anymore lol
Will Kevin Durant fit alongside Damian Lillard?
Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard are two of the most talented scorers in the NBA. Both have unlimited range and the ability to terrorize defenses. On paper, they seem like a good fit, but with Durant and Lillard both likely to be on gigantic contracts, the Trail Blazers may struggle to surround them with talent.
For Durant, it won't be too different from Brooklyn in that aspect. Durant and Lillard are isolation players of the highest quality. But to achieve collective success, they will need efficient two-way players to support them. The only thing that would be different for Durant in terms of playing with Lillard would be the latter's commitment.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets' superteam could be coming to an end this offseason. While James Harden left midway through last campaign, Kyrie Irving's future is up in the air. Reports emerged that his contract talks with the Nets are at a standstill. Irving could leave in free agency and if that happens, rumors suggest that Kevin Durant could be on his way out as well.
Durant's four-year $194 million extension will kick in next season, and it will take a monster package to lure him away.
Lillard is one of the most reliable players in the league. He has missed under ten games in nine out of ten seasons. He underwent abdominal surgery last campaign, which is the only reason he missed a significant amount of time.
Kevin Durant has also dealt with his share of injuries. At this stage of his career, he needs a co-star who can carry the burden by playing at least 70 regular-season games. Teaming up with Damian Lillard makes sense from that perspective.
However, it will be difficult for Portland to package a deal that would entice the Brooklyn Nets into parting with Durant.