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Sources: Blazers' Damian Lillard meets with owner Paul Allen over team direction
Lillard與球隊老闆針對球隊方向進行秘會

https://goo.gl/vczWqc

Portland Trail Blazers star point guard Damian Lillard met with team owner Paul
Allen to gather an understanding of the organization's direction, league
sources told ESPN.
消息來源告訴ESPN，Lillard與微軟創辦人、球隊老闆Paul Allen針對球隊未來進行秘會

The two met discreetly for approximately one hour in Allen's office at Moda
Center prior to hosting the Indiana Pacers last Thursday, sources said. It was
the first home game Allen attended in 2018.
上周四在與溜馬對戰前，Lillard在Allen的辦公室待了約一小時
這是2018年Allen首次來主場看球

Lillard, who turns 28 on July 15, requested the meeting in part to reaffirm his
commitment to the only professional franchise he has ever suited up for, but
also to gain assurances that the organization was just as devoted to
expeditiously crafting a title-contending team, sources said.
在七月就要28歲的Lillard，主動要求這次會議，主要是重申自己對拓荒者的忠誠
次要就是確保球隊高層仍在努力打造具奪冠實力的勁旅

According to sources, the meeting was held without knowledge of anyone else in
the organization. Allen notified the Trail Blazers' basketball operations and
business branch afterward.
無人知道此次會議，直到會議結束後，Allen才告知球隊其他人員

In the weeks leading up to the meeting, Allen feared Lillard would request a
trade, sources said, but a trade request was not made. The two-time All-Star
made it clear, though, that he has championship aspirations and wanted to
fulfill those lofty goals during the remaining years of his prime window.
在這次會議之前，Allen害怕Lillard會喊吹密，但Lillard清楚的表達了忠誠
他仍舊希望能為波特蘭帶來一座冠軍獎盃

Portland, winners of three of its past four, is currently 25-22 and stationed
seventh in the Western Conference standings. The 2012-13 Rookie of the Year has
led his team to the playoffs in each of the past four seasons, but has yet to
advance past the second round.
拓荒者目前戰績25勝22敗，在西區名列第七，Lillard已經帶領球隊連四年進入季後賽
但到目前為止都是二輪遊

It's not unprecedented for Allen to meet with marquee players of his franchise.
He is also the owner of the Seattle Seahawks and frequently has sit-downs with
some of the key players, a source said.
Allen與球隊陣中明星球員會談並不是稀有的事情，他同時也是西雅圖海鷹隊的老闆
和球隊明星球員常面對面對談，互相交換意見

This was the first time Lillard and Allen have spoken in such a capacity,
however. The meeting, which sources described as a productive, open forum to
share opinions and express concerns, could also lead to more sit-downs in the
future.
但這是Lillard首次與Allen進行如此縝密的對談，彼此交換了許多意見
並且表達了對球隊未來的擔憂

During the gathering, Allen also sought answers.
Allen藉由此次聚會也尋找了答案

Allen acknowledged the roster imbalance, but questioned why the team had
suffered through an inconsistent first half. Lillard issued a heartfelt vote of
confidence for head coach Terry Stotts, sources said.
Allen承認了球隊陣容的不平衡，但也對球隊在上半季的跌跌撞撞表達了質疑
所以Lillard當場為總教練Terry Stoots拍胸脯保證，表達對他的信任

They also discussed players to target. The New York Times' Marc Stein recently
reported the Trail Blazers are one of the teams trying to engage in trade talks
with the LA Clippers for big man DeAndre Jordan, but the Clippers haven't had
any serious offers.
他們也討論希望納入的球員，像是最近紐時報導拓荒者想與快艇交易DAJ，但快艇否認了

In addition, Lillard sought an explanation from Allen as to why Will Barton was
traded to Denver in February of 2015, sources said. Lillard made it known he
didn't agree with the move. Barton is a penetrating, spot-up shooter -- the
type of player Portland could use on the wing.
另外，Lillard質疑Allen為何2015年2月將Will Barton交易到丹佛
他認為此為不智之舉，因為Barton是個很好的定點射手，能在側邊提供許多火力

Three years ago, the Trail Blazers were under enormous pressure to prove to
LaMarcus Aldridge that they were all-in on acquiring proven talent to help make
a championship run. The power forward was an unrestricted free agent at the end
of the 2014-15 season and ended up signing with the San Antonio Spurs.
三年前，拓荒者亟欲證明阿GG離開球隊是錯誤的抉擇

Barton was traded along with Thomas Robinson, Victor Claver and a protected
first-round pick in exchange for Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee.
Barton和Thomas Robinson和Victor Claver以及保護一輪籤
被拿去換來Arron Afflalo與Alonzo Gee

The 3-point ball is essential in today's NBA game, and it's an element the team
lacks.
但三分在近年來球賽扮演重要的角色，而且正是拓荒者欠缺的

Portland is one of the lower-tier 3-point shooting teams, ranked 19th in the
league in makes (9.8) and 22nd in attempts (26.1). Lillard and CJ McCollum
account for 50 percent of the team's made 3s this season, the second-highest
duo percentage in the league. Only Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson of the
Golden State Warriors combine for a higher percentage of their team's 3s at 53
percent, and the defending champs are equipped with personnel that dominate in
other departments. With a lack of threats in Portland, opposing defenses load
up on Lillard from pick-and-roll traps to all-out ball denials in an effort to
force others to beat them.
托荒者在三分球上落於聯盟後段排名，平均每場投進9.8顆為聯盟19名
嘗試出手次數26.1次為聯盟22名，Lillard和CJ McCollum就佔了50%
僅次於Curry+KT，而且勇士還具備其他的人才
由於球隊缺乏威脅，對方可將防守重心置於Lillard

Portland currently has the fifth-largest payroll in the league at around $123
million, largely due to the summer of 2016 when the billion-dollar television
revenue deal kicked in. However, the Trail Blazers are miles away from being in
the same class as championship-contending teams.
由於2016年電視轉播合約的錢，托荒者的球隊總薪資位於聯盟第五
但薪資與球隊表現並不成正比

Evan Turner, Moe Harkless and Meyers Leonard are three of the five highest-paid
players in Portland. Turner signed for four years and $70 million, Harkless
re-signed at four years, $40 million, and Leonard re-upped for four years, $41
million. But Turner has drastically underperformed, while Harkless and Leonard
are out of the rotation altogether.
Evan Turner, Moe Harkless and Meyers Leonard是球隊裡面位於球隊薪水前五名
但Turner表現皆差強人意，Harkless and Leonard甚至在出賽名單外

Furthermore, the contracts of Andrew Nicholson ($2.8 million annually),
Anderson Varejao ($1.9 million annually) and Festus Ezeli ($333,333 annually)
are stretched out to 2024, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
除此之外，Andrew Nicholson,Anderson Varejao,Festus Ezeli的合約
分別要到2024, 2021, 2020才會到期

The team did manage to unload Allen Crabbe's four-year, $75 million
after trading him last summer to the Brooklyn Nets, the very team that extended
the guard the offer sheet before Portland matched. With that move, the Trail
Blazers are currently $2.8 million above the luxury tax threshold and have a
current luxury tax bill of $4.3 million, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.
拓荒者去年才將Allen Crabbe交易到籃網以擺脫爛約
目前拓荒者高於豪華稅上限2.8M，且需繳交4.3M的豪華稅

Still, the roster is filled with position redundancy and minimal attractive
assets. Aside from Lillard, McCollum and at times center Jusuf Nurkic, players
have struggled to carve out a productive, consistent niche.
球隊裡面滿滿是高薪低就的球員
目前僅靠Lillard, McCollum與Nurkic勉強撐著

Lillard desperately yearns to bring a championship to Portland, which is why he
inquired about the organization's plan of attack to accelerate the process. He
has four years remaining on a deal that owes him $115 million.
Lillard仍希望將總冠軍帶回波特蘭，所以他希望高層能更加努力
他仍有四年的合約

The sixth-year guard is one of four NBA players averaging 25-plus points,
4-plus rebounds and 6-plus assists this season. The other three are LeBron
James, Curry and James Harden.
Lillard年均25+得分，4+籃板，6+助功，僅次於LBJ, Curry, 哈登

On Monday, Lillard was named the Week 14 Western Conference Player of the Week
after leading his team to a 3-0 record and averaging 29.3 points while shooting
53 percent from the field to go with 8.0 assists.
星期一，Lillard被選為西區每周傑出球員，帶領球隊3連勝，平均得分29.3分，8助攻


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