- Blazers superstar expected to suit up this season regardless of which team he plays for
- Lillard has “no plans” to sit out games or miss training camp
- Lillard trade talks are dead, with weeks to go until the season
Superstar point guard Damian Lillard has made it clear where he stands on his NBA future, but as the summer comes to a close, it’s looking more and more like he’ll have to stay put for the time being.
In fact, according to the latest update out of Portland, the Blazers are expecting their franchise guy to suit up come the start of training camp. “Trail Blazers have not discussed any Damian Lillard trade scenarios in recent weeks,” wrote NBA Trade Report on X. “As of now, they expect the All-NBA PG to be in Portland opening night. Lillard has no plans to sit out any games if he remains in Portland to start the season.”
After years of failed campaigns with the Trail Blazers, NBA fans and experts were relieved when Damian Lillard finally requested a trade back in July of this year. Fast forward a few months later, however, and Lillard remains a Blazer with no signs of escape. Most stars in this situation would start an aggressive and toxic campaign to get their way, but it seems that Dame has elected not to go that route and it makes sense if you understand his history.
Damian Wants To Avoid A Falling Out With Trail Blazers
In the case of James Harden, we are seeing how ugly things can get when a star resorts to extreme methods to break up with his team. Not only did Harden publicly accuse GM Daryl Morey of being a liar, but he also insisted that he’d never play for the Sixers again as long as Morey was in charge.
To say bridges have been burned would be an understatement for Harden and the 76ers, but things are different in Portland. After devoting over 11 years of his career to the Blazers and becoming the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, he’s built a special connection to the team and the city.
To double-down on his trade demand and refuse to play for the Trail Blazers would be betraying everything that he’s stood for.
Will Lillard Be Traded Before The Deadline?
While Damian will not withhold his services from the team, it doesn’t mean that he’s changed his mind about wanting out. In fact, Lillard recently confirmed his trade demand in person after questions about its authenticity.
With at least three years left on his deal, there is no rush for the Blazers to accept any offer, and it’s why negotiations for Dame have been almost nonexistent since his offseason trade request.
To make matters even more complicated, the Heat are the only team that Lillard is willing to move to, which means that Miami has an incentive to make a lucrative offer.
To date, the most that Miami has put on the table is a deal that includes Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and a handful of future draft picks. While it may not be the haul that Joe Cronin was hoping for, it might be the best package that he can get, given the ongoing situation with Lillard.
With averages of 32.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game, Damian is a generational talent who has the skills to shift the balance of power in the NBA. For the Blazers, the only way to come out of this as a winner is to trade him for the best possible return they can. Until that happens, expect Lillard to keep playing games in a Blazers jersey.
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