LAS VEGAS -- It was late Monday night, a dozen or so hours before the start of the Trail Blazers' summer league minicamp, and Tim Frazier needed a sweat.

So he stopped by the team's practice facility in Tualatin, slipped on a pair of sneakers, and texted Damian Lillard.

"I'm at the gym," Frazier wrote. "Where are you? I'm waiting for you."

"I'll be there in 10 minutes," Lillard wrote back.

Frazier was joking. Lillard was not.

Just as Frazier was about to work up that sweat, Lillard sauntered onto the court, transforming a casual solo late-night workout into an intense two-man session.

As Frazier tries to make the substantial leap from NBA Development League standout to NBA contributor, he's made an important ally in one of the game's prominent young stars. Frazier has only been with the Blazers about four months, but he and Lillard already have forged a tight bond, their easygoing demeanors and laser-like determination to be elite point guards fueling a unique friendship.

There have been times in Las Vegas where Frazier has looked like the best player on the court, his blend of Roadrunner speed and pass-first point guard play creating headaches for defenses. But there have also been times, like Tuesday afternoon against the San Antonio Spurs, where his shaky shooting, forced penetration and so-so decision-making, have handicapped the Blazers' offense.

Frazier offers a nice change of pace for the Blazers and his skillset is unique among the team's current crop of point guards. If he continues to improve, he has a good chance to landing a roster spot next season. But his contract is not guaranteed and, as much as anyone on the Blazers' summer league team, Frazier is fighting for his NBA life.

As he does, the 6-foot-1 guard has one important believer on his side.

"He definitely has a future in the league," Lillard said of Frazier.

Frazier arrived in Portland at the end of March, fresh off a dynamic NBA Development League season that saw him record four triple-doubles, average 16.7 points, 9.5 assists and 7.1 rebounds per game, and earn league MVP honors. One of the first players he sought out when he initially walked into the Blazers' locker room was Lillard, a two-time All-Star who Frazier aspires to be.

Lillard wanted the Blazers' new point guard to be comfortable and feel like a part of the team, so he instigated the friendship, offering Frazier his cell phone number and an open invitation to talk or hang out any time. Before long, the two, along with fellow guard CJ McCollum, were inseparable.

They didn't just linger around the locker room and share stories. Or go all-out during competitive one-on-one drills at practice. They also went out for meals on the road and spent time together at Lillard's suburban home outside Portland.

In a short time, Lillard evolved into a mentor who was also a friend.

"It was basically all him," Frazier said of Lillard. "He's basically taken me under his wing, and to have him by my side, looking after me and teaching me the ropes, is a blessing. I'm in a perfect situation as I continue to get better. I'm like a sponge soaking up everything I can from him. Every workout he does, I try to mimic him. I have a different game, I'm not the same player, but whatever I can take from him, and translate it into my game, that's what I'm trying to do."

Frazier has heard an earful of on-court tips from Lillard, involving everything from navigating pick-and-rolls on offense to setting up teammates for open looks to honing in on the Blazers' defensive goals. But, perhaps more than anything, Frazier has gleaned insight into how hard a player has to work to be elite. Few push themselves as hard as Lillard behind the scenes.

"One of the biggest things I've taken from him is just his work ethic," Frazier said. "That guys works so much. He's a machine. And when he works out, he goes all out. Watching him, being a part of that, seeing what it takes, that just helps me improve my game."

Frazier's speed, passing and team-first mentality are his greatest strengths, and they've all been on display in Las Vegas. He nearly recorded a triple-double in the Blazers' summer league opener against the Boston Celtics, finishing with 11 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. And he followed that up with a nice outing against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, recording 14 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Through two games, he ranked second in assists (8.0 per game) at summer league.

Frazier's passing and floor presence can be show-stopping good. And he makes multiple highlight-worthy plays a game.

But he also is very much is a work in progress.

Shooting is a major Achilles heel -- he's made just 13 of 30 shots (43 percent) and missed all five of his three-point attempts in three summer league games -- and while his ball-handling is excellent, he can over-dribble and stall the Blazers' offense. Against the Spurs on Tuesday, Frazier too often forced penetration and dribbled himself into trouble. The end result: eight points and eight assists -- and five costly turnovers.

But Frazier is also oozing potential. His breakneck speed and superior passing skills can offer the Blazers a nice changeup off the bench next season, particularly on a young and rebuilding roster.

"I love how crafty he is and competitive," Lillard said. "He has a ton of confidence and wants to make it bad."

Frazier has at least two more summer league games and an entire regular season training camp to make it. And as he forges ahead, he'll have one important friend on his side.

"He's like a brother," Frazier said of Lillard. "A brother that you can go to about anything, talk to about anything, that can fill you in, take you under his wing. That's everything you ask for coming into the league. This is my dream, to play in the NBA, and to have somebody as significant as Dame on my side, showing me the ropes, is everything anyone could ever ask for."

--Joe Freeman | jfreeman@oregonian.com | 503-294-5183 | @BlazerFreeman