The most important player on each and every NBA team this season

By Ti Windisch | Aug 28, 2018

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defended by Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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NEW ORLEANS, LA – APRIL 19: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers stands on th court during Game 3 of the Western Conference playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Smoothie King Center on April 19, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Portland Trail Blazers — Damian Lillard

VJ McCollum is the members of the Portland Trail Blazers who keeps ending up in the headlines this summer, but he isn’t the most important Blazer aside from web traffic metrics. Damian Lillard is still the boss in Portland.

Dame is a clutch player who energized the entire city of Portland after LaMarcus Aldridge and so many other Blazers left a few years back, and he’s kept his team relevant ever since. Lillard was a single point per game away from averaging 20 his rookie year, and he’s been a steady 20-plus point per game scorer ever since.

Some bad contracts given to players like Meyers Leonard and Evan Turner have hamstrung Portland, and not even Lillard has been good enough to overcome them. It could be tough for the Blazers to overcome their sweep at the hands of a banged up Pelicans team last year, meaning the Lillard era could eventually come to an end.

Lillard being dealt would undoubtedly be the end of an era. McCollum being traded wouldn’t exactly have the same effect. McCollum is a great, effective player. Lillard embodies this era of Portland basketball.

The Los Angeles Clippers were in a similar situation as the one these Blazers are currently in. Most of the NBA community feels as though this team has maxed out its potential. It will be up to Lillard to prove that is not the case.

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