The Portland Trail Blazers “really like” Victor Oladipo and are considering moving up in the draft to get him, according to a source close to the prospect.

Oladipo expressed interest in playing for the Blazers.

“I would really love to go to Portland, and I'm not just saying that,” Oladipo said. “I hope, and I don't think I'm dropping that far, but if they decided to move up somehow, I think that would be a great situation for me. It's a place where you can just concentrate on basketball.”

Oladipo is projected to go in the top five of the upcoming draft.

The Portland Trail Blazers have hired Nate Tibbetts as an assistant coach on Terry Stotts' staff.

Tibbetts had been with the Cleveland Cavaliers since 2011.

Damian Lillard headlines the 2013 NBA All-Rookie Team as a unanimous selection.

Bradley Beal, Anthony Davis, Dion Waiters and Harrison Barnes joined Lillard on the All-Rookie First Team.

On the All-Rookie Second Team is Andre Drummond, Jonas Valanciunas, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kyle Singler and Tyler Zeller.

The Portland Trail Blazers have parted ways with longtime athletic trainer Jay Jensen.

Jensen served as the Blazers’ trainer for 19 years.

Jensen came under scrutiny in recent years after Greg Oden and Brandon Roy had their careers compromised because of knee injuries.

Kaleb Canales is leaving the Portland Trail Blazers to take an assistant coaching position with the Dallas Mavericks.

Canales, a finalist for the Blazers' coaching vacancy last offseason that ultimately went to Terry Stotts, served as a defensive coordinator on Portland's staff this season.

Stotts had said he wanted to remove the "coordinator" label and make both ends of the court a team effort from the coaches.

Canales was the Blazers' interim coach in 2012, when the organization fired Nate McMillan.

Damian Lillard has heard the criticism of his defense and took time during Wednesday’s Rookie of the Year presentation to answer his critics.

“When people say stuff about my defense, it bothers me,’’ Lillard said. “And I’m aware of it. It drives me. It lights a fire under me.’’

Lillard plans to study defense this summer under the direction of Gary Payton, who won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 1995-96.

Payton reached out to Lillard watching the rookie point guard score 37 points at Golden State.

“He said ‘I want to help you,’ ’’ Lillard said. “He said it would take time for me to become a defender, but he said I have everything to become one. So this will be the summer where I get in the gym with him and try to learn from him.’’

Neil Olshey is thrilled at the prospect of Lillard working out with Payton.

“The more time Dame spends with Gary this offseason, the more I know Dame will respect that he has to give an incredible effort on the defensive end,’’ Olshey said. “Because if Gary is going to invest time in him talking about defense, Damian is the type of kid who will feel like he has to deliver.’’

Damian Lillard unanimously won the 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year award.

Lillard was selected sixth overall by the Portland Trail Blazers with a draft pick acquired from the Brooklyn Nets for Gerald Wallace.

Lillard averaged 19.0 points and 6.5 assists per game.

Anthony Davis and Bradley Beal finished second and third respectively.

Andre Drummond, Dion Waiters, Harrison Barnes, Chris Copeland, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Jonas Valanciunas and John Jenkins also received votes.