NBA News: Damian Lillard is one of the more polarizing names in the NBA. He has also been a rumored trade target for multiple seasons now. There have been countless statements made by NBA players saying they’d love to team up with Lillard, but would the Portland Trailblazers ever agree to a trade?
Multiple Trade Rumors Swirling Regarding Seven-Time All-Star Damian Lillard As Jimmy Butler Is Actively Recruiting (NBA News)
Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler reportedly is recruiting Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard to Miami this offseason. Getting Lillard to Miami seems to be a priority this offseason after they lost out on the Bradley Beal sweepstakes. Miami was long linked to Bradley Beal, but the Washington Wizards dealt Beal to the Phoenix Suns to allow him to team up with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
“Nonetheless, the Wizards close the Beal Era jaggedly, horribly,” The Athletic’s David Aldridge wrote. “Miami has clearly prioritized getting Damian Lillard from Portland, with Jimmy Butler a central part of the Heat’s recruiting pitch. While Washington wanted the multiple first-rounders the Heat were offering, it didn’t matter; Beal wanted to play in Phoenix.
His wife and her family are from California, and K.D. and Booker are a smidge more potent offensively than Jimmy Buckets and Bam Adebayo. The Wizards couldn’t stay in a holding pattern; unwilling to wait on the Heat, they turned to Phoenix, which our Shams Charania first reported had gotten into the sweepstakes seriously on Saturday.”
Does Damian Lillard Want To Be Traded From The Portland Trailblazers?
There figures to be many teams who are waiting to see if they will have the chance to acquire Lillard should he ask for a trade, but the Blazers point guard has continually expressed his loyalty to Portland even when many believe he should seek a better opportunity to win a championship elsewhere. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reiterated that in an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“Damian Lillard has left everything up to Portland,” Charania said. “He wants to be there and he wants that team to get better.”
Many have also speculated that Lillard’s future could ride on what the Blazers decide to do with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft. Portland has shopped the pick, hoping to acquire a veteran that will help Lillard and the Blazers win now. However, as of the beginning of the week leading up to the draft, the No. 3 selection still belongs in the Pacific Northwest.
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