Lillard may become the biggest factor! Will he become the best sixth person after recovery or become the next Cousins?

Two years ago, on July 1, Lillard applied for a deal with the Trail Blazers; two years later, on July 1, he was cut by the Bucks with extended terms. This superstar, who once called the wind and rain in the league, will go where the future will be after experiencing a severe injury from a ruptured Achilles tendon. Will he change to the sixth person? Will it become the next Cousins?

The latest report says that both double-digit teams want to sign Lillard, and there is no doubt that they have the mentality of "picking up bargains". Lillard is now seriously injured. Although there will be no loss in his salary for the remaining two years, the newly signed contract will definitely be "low price", and may even be the basic salary. Previously, famous reporter Shams reported that Lillard's expected recovery cycle is 8-10 months and may return in the playoffs in the 2025-26 season.

From the team's perspective, adding a big-hearted player like Lillard, especially at an extremely low cost, is of course a good thing. He can change to a substitute and become the strongest sixth man, or he can play at a critical moment when the team needs him the most and continue to play the hero who wins the blow. However, for Lillard himself, it is still unknown how much he can recover after he recovers from injury.

Tear of the Achilles tendon is undoubtedly one of the hardest blows in your career for any basketball player. Looking at the history of the NBA, many stars have undergone earth-shaking careers after suffering this injury. One of the most representative players should be DeMarcus Cousins.

When playing for the Pelicans in 2018-19, Cousins ​​unfortunately suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon. Before this, Cousins ​​was a top center in the league. He was in a row in the inside line, averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. He had a rich and diverse offensive methods. He was proficient in low-post singles and mid- and long-distance shooting. His rebounding ability was also excellent and he was the core of the team's inside line.

However, after that serious injury, Cousins' athletic ability dropped significantly, and his explosive power and movement speed were much worse than before. Although he tried hard to make a comeback and went to multiple teams, he still failed to regain his peak form before his injury. From an All-Star center to a role player on the edge of the team's lineup, and now it has even fallen to playing Puerto Rico League. Cousins' career trajectory has undergone a sad and huge change due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Lillard is now standing at a crossroads of life similar to Cousins. Fortunately, his career income was much higher than Cousins ​​at that time. Including the five-year salary (113 million) that the Bucks delayed, Lillard's career locked in his salary is more than $440 million. Cousins, who entered the NBA two years earlier than Lillard, had a career income of $91.91 million.

Unlike Cousins, Lillard's business value and influence in the alliance cannot be underestimated. Even if he is seriously injured, his personal brand still has a certain appeal, which may win him more opportunities and stronger contract conditions. Moreover, Lillard has excellent basketball IQ and game reading ability. He can better adapt to the tactical system of the new team by changing his game style. For example, reduce some breakthroughs and strong attacks that rely on explosive power, and use your passes and shots to drive the team's offense more.

There is a view that if Lillard is willing to let go of his figure and accept the substitute, he is completely likely to become one of the strongest sixth men in the league. In some championship teams, there is often a lack of a player who can carry the offensive banner in the second team. Lillard's extensive game experience, outstanding scoring ability and leadership at critical moments can all allow him to play a huge role on the bench. He can lead the team's second team to maintain offensive firepower, stabilize the team's situation during the period when the main players are off the court, and even achieve a score overtake. For those teams who are determined to win the championship, such a super sixth person with rich experience and outstanding abilities is undoubtedly a crucial part of the championship puzzle.

Judging from his own strength and past performance, if he can recover smoothly, he still has the capital to gain a foothold in the league. Although a ruptured Achilles tendon will have a certain impact on athletes’ explosiveness and speed, Lillard’s basketball skills depend not only on physical fitness. His three-point skill with a hundred steps to penetrate Yang is his magic weapon to defeat the enemy on the field.

Even his athletic ability has declined, with his excellent shooting feel and precise control of the game rhythm, he can still provide strong firepower support to the team on the offensive end. "Lillard Moment" has become a classic picture that fans talk about. This ability to stay calm under pressure and be fatal with one blow cannot be easily erased by injuries.

Wishing Rad a speedy recovery and will continue to show his value in the new team.