Time for a Dame trade?

The Trail Blazers certainly aren't obligated to ship out Damian Lillard before training camp begins in a week-plus, but they have left the impression leaguewide that they'd like to make a move by then

The Portland Trail Blazers basically have seven more days to trade Damian Lillard.

Wait a second. Let’s rephrase that slightly.

They have a week to trade Lillard before Blazers Media Day arrives on Oct. 2 and the intrusion of questions and pressure from the press and public becomes a daily aspect of life for Portland for the first time since it wrapped up a 33-49 season way back in April.

Only the Blazers themselves know if they consider the start of training camp to be an absolute deadline organizationally, but the belief leaguewide is that they wouldn’t be talking to as many teams as they’ve talked to in recent days if they weren’t serious about wanting to get a deal done before the season starts anew.

We delve into some of the possibilities, as well as some non-Dame pressing topics, in our latest around-the-league notes: