LAS VEGAS — Damian Lillard acknowledged he was wowed by the Clippers’ power play Friday night to bring Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to Los Angeles, but the Trail Blazers star was far from intimidated.



Yes, the Clippers appear formidable, and upon learning the news, Lillard said he immediately texted former teammate and now Clippers reserve forward Maurice Harkless, to tell him, “Y’all going to be nice.”



But as the basketball world imagined the star-studded Clippers and newly fortified Lakers in the Western Conference finals, Lillard held to himself a bit of knowledge about the Blazers.



“This” he repeated on three separate occasions Saturday, “is what people don’t understand …”



What they don’t understand is Lillard has been making some important moves of his own behind the scenes — moves that could translate to the Blazers entering the conversation as contenders to win the...