• Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks
• This ends Lillard’s 11-year stint with the Blazers where he became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer
• Lillard shared a very lengthy statement on X/Twitter to say goodbye to the Blazers
Damian Lillard has issued a lengthy statement on X/Twitter, where the all-time leading scorer for the Blazers gave some insight into his feelings regarding how fans have treated him since his trade request.
“I must admit that it does make me sad to see some people crossover and appear as my opposition in the wake of me asking to be traded without knowing the facts because I am truly one of you. I hope there is a day where we can come together and reminisce on the great times as we won’t have them again – at least not as they were.”
RipCity Forever ❤️… Dame Time has run out 🫡 pic.twitter.com/Rnm8oT5qF7
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) September 28, 2023
Lillard also went on to thank a whole host of people for their contributions to his career. He also gave his best wishes to Chauncey Billups and Anfernee Simons, while apologizing to team owner Jodie Allen about the acrimonious way their tenure together ended. He ended his statement with an emotional goodbye.
“As this chapter of my life ends, 1 look back and realize how special it was. Even in this moment, I feel sad that we never accomplished what I wanted so badly. I don’t cry much, but I know my love for you is real because I am for sure dropping some tears right now. Rip City, you know my heart and where I stand because I’ve stood there for over a decade so to have to move off my square hurts my heart. As my guy chief says, “One man don’t stop no show” and the show in Rip City must go on with or without me. I do believe a day will come when I put a Blazers uniform on again, and hopefully, by then I’ll be forgiven for breaking your hearts along with my own.”
The 11-year Blazers veteran was traded yesterday in a blockbuster three-team trade that saw the Bucks land Lillard, while the Blazers got Jrue Holiday and Deandre Ayton, along with an assortment of picks. The Suns were the third team and received four rotational players headline by Jusuf Nurkic for parting with former No. 1 overall pick Ayton.
The Blazers Didn’t Want To Help Damian Lillard
Lillard’s farewell statement is very positive and thanks members of the organization and the franchise. The reality is that the franchise didn’t want to help him after everything he did for them. They turned down a significant trade offer from the Miami Heat because that was Lillard’s first choice. Chris Haynes revealed that GM Joe Cronin was particularly harsh in his treatment of Lillard.
Cronin allegedly asked Lillard to help the Blazers tank so that they could get a strong pick to move for veteran talent. That turned out to be a lie, as they drafted Lillard’s replacement, Scoot Henderson, instead. He also refused to let Lillard stay on with the Blazers after his trade request when it became clear they wouldn’t send him to Miami.
Lillard allegedly had to keep his alternate preferences of Milwaukee and Brooklyn hidden from the franchise because he thought they would ensure he didn’t end up there. That’s a sad way for a franchise legend to be treated on their way out, but the Blazers organization hasn’t been very competent in the last decade after drafting Lillard.
Damian Lillard Has Been Waiting To Team Up With Giannis
Lillard had expressed a desire to team up with Giannis Antetokounmpo all the way back in 2022 when GQ Sports asked him who his ideal championship teammate would be.
“I would pick Giannis. I would say the dominance, somebody that’s going to get to the rim. He’s a good playmaker. Good defender. Disruptive, and the way he plays complements the way I play. I would bring something to the table that complements what he does and vice versa. Seamless.
Now that he’s gotten his wish, Lillard will hope to parlay his incredible 32.2 points per game from last season onto the Bucks and help them become a league-leading offense. The defense will be hurt without Holiday, but Giannis and Brook Lopez still make them a very intimidating defensive unit.
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