Damian Lillard Saga Could Turn Into A Ben Simmons Situation: “If They Wanna Wait Till Feb. To Trade Him They Can…”

Lillard trade could drag on like Ben Simmons deal, according to NBA insider.

4 Min Read

Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

It seems like only a matter of time before Damian Lillard becomes a member of the Miami Heat, but the path to getting there could turn ugly. Like it or not, Lillard still has four years left on his contract, and Portland is clearly in no rush to trade away their franchise star.

But as this situation continues to get dragged out, there is a sense that Lillard could resort to extreme methods to get what he wants. From the words of league insider Ramona Shelburne, this Dame dilemma could look a lot like the Ben Simmons saga if things keep trending in this direction. 

“I just talked to 2 GMs this morning who said we might be looking at another Ben Simmons situation here. This guy has 4 years left on his deal. POR can take their time. Let’s see if he shows up for training camp. If they wanna wait till Feb. to trade him they can.”

Ben Simmons asked for a trade from the 76ers after a failed playoff run, but he wasn’t traded until February of that same year when Daryl Morey finally struck a deal with the Nets. Simmons refused to suit up and play for his team, and both sides were at a complete deadlock before Morey found a new home for Ben months later.

Damian Lillard is obviously a much better player than Simmons ever was, but the length of his deal and his sights for the Heat have essentially put things at a complete stand-still.

If Miami wants to make this trade happen, it will be up to them to find a third trade partner to give the Blazers the assets they want.


Will Other Teams Make An Offer For Lillard?

It may seem redundant to prolong this process, but the longer Portland waits, the bigger chance there is that some other team will step in to make a desperate offer. In that scenario, all the leverage would go to the Blazers.

“Whether it’s the Clippers, whether it’s the Celtics, those are among the two teams that have a level of interest in trading for Damian Lillard. The answer’s been a resounding no. He wants to be in Miami, period.”

Everything is up to Blazers GM Joe Cronin now. Whether he decides to wait this out for the best offer or just make a trade to get this over with, it will be interesting to see what kind of return they get. As the best player in franchise history, Damian Lillard should be someone who gets a massive return in any trade.

We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.

Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Share This Article
Follow:
Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *