- Damian Lillard handed in a trade request to the Portland Trail Blazers almost two months back
- Lillard remains on the team today and doesn’t seem too happy about it
- Lillard unfollowed the Trail Blazers on Instagram recently in what appears to be a cryptic message
The whole James Harden saga has taken away the spotlight from Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard finally requested a trade from the team this offseason, but it doesn’t seem like there’s been much progress on a potential trade. The 33-year-old doesn’t appear to be too pleased about it and unfollowed the team on Instagram.
Dame has unfollowed the Blazers on Instagram 💔 pic.twitter.com/wxJKmreHti
— Blazers Palace (@blazers_palace) August 20, 2023
It is not really a surprise that Lillard still hasn’t been traded. His insistence on only wanting to go to the Miami Heat ensured this saga was going to drag on. The Blazers just don’t like what the Heat have to offer and are in no rush to trade the seven-time All-Star, as they have Lillard under contract through the 2024-25 season.
What has made it easier for the Trail Blazers to just stand pat, is that he hasn’t gone nuclear like Harden just yet. Lillard is expected to report and participate in the Blazers’ training camp if he isn’t traded, in part, because he doesn’t want to lose out on any money. If the 2013 Rookie of the Year is desperate to get out, he might have to make the situation very uncomfortable, just as Harden has.
The Blazers’ Stance On A Trade With The Heat
We hadn’t heard much on the trade front in recent weeks, and it turns out there is a good reason for that. The Trail Blazers are still not interested in trading Lillard to the Heat, as per insider Barry Jackson. Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game in the 2022-23 season and the Blazers aren’t going to move him unless they really like what they get in return.
Jackson stated that Lillard has leverage based on how messy he’s willing to make this situation, but as stated earlier, he is going to show up to camp. Lillard has never really been one to cause trouble, so you doubt he is going to do something out of character when he does get to camp either. Perhaps unfollowing them here could be the first step toward Lillard deciding he’s had enough.
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