The Trail Blazers made waves on Saturday by executing a five-player trade with the Kings that sent Trevor Ariza to Portland. Ariza, a 34-year-old veteran, has navigated the NBA landscape for over a decade as a two-way forward.
Regardless of his reduced production in the latter stages of his career, Lillard expressed measured optimism about Ariza’s addition. Lillard spoke with The Oregonian’s Jamie Goldberg following Saturday’s loss to the Thunder.
“I think he can really help us,” Lillard said. “I think the situation that we’re in, 18-26, not where we planned on being, things haven’t been working out, we haven’t been winning a lot of games.