Portland Trail Blazers Pick Up Fourth-Year Option on Damian Lillard

The Portland Trail Blazers released good, but unsurprising, news today, picking up the fourth-year option on point guard Damian Lillard.

The official press release:

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Trail Blazers exercised their fourth-year option on the contract of guard Damian Lillard, it was announced today by General Manager Neil Olshey.

In two seasons, Lillard has averaged 19.9 points (42.7% FG, 38.1% 3-PT, 85.9% FT), 3.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.84 steals and 37.2 minutes per game. Only four players in NBA history have more points (3,257) and assists (988) in their first two seasons (O. Robertson, T. Archibald, A Iverson, L. James). Lillard's 403 3-pointers through his first two seasons are the most in league history. He's tied for eighth on Portland's all-time list for 3-pointers (403). Lillard set a franchise record last season for the most 3-pointers made in a single season (218).

Last season, Lillard averaged a career-high 20.7 points to go along with 3.5 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 35.8 minutes per game. In addition to being named to the Western Conference All-Star Team in 2014, the second-year pro was also selected Third Team All-NBA.

As a rookie in 2012-13, Lillard averaged 19.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.5 assists while starting in all 82 games for the Trail Blazers. He became just the fourth player in NBA history to earn unanimous Rookie of the Year honors (B. Griffin, D. Robinson and R. Sampson).

Lillard was selected sixth overall by the Trail Blazers in the 2012 NBA Draft after playing 103 career games (98 starts) throughout four years at Weber State University.

This is the final extension of Lillard's rookie contract that can be exercised unilaterally by the team. Lillard will receive $4.2 million in the 2015-16 season and presumably receive a sizable salary increase upon the completion of that campaign.

The Blazers have not announced whether they'll extend other players on rookie-scale contracts: Thomas Robinson, C.J. McCollum, and Meyers Leonard. They have until the end of October to make those decisions.