- Damian Lillard was willing to rescind his trade request, but GM Joe Cronin refused
- Lillard was “shocked” that the Trail Blazers didn’t want him back
- The superstar ended up on a contender with the Milwaukee Bucks
Point guard Damian Lillard is arguably the greatest player in Portland Trail Blazers history, and he has spent a lot of good years with the franchise. However, he is now a member of the Milwaukee Bucks as a result of the latest NBA blockbuster trade.
Originally, we saw Damian Lillard request a trade specifically to the Miami Heat. However, the trade talks between the Heat and the Trail Blazers led nowhere. Recently, Lillard admitted to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report that he was willing to return to the Trail Blazers and rescind his trade request, but GM Joe Cronin refused his request.
“Lillard then said if a deal couldn’t be worked out with the Heat, he would prefer to rescind his trade request and return to the Trail Blazers.”
“Cronin’s response to the seven-time All-Star was that there was no coming back.”
“Lillard was shocked, sources said. He said it was discouraging to hear he couldn’t return, but added that he didn’t want to be somewhere he wasn’t wanted, and he ended the meeting.”
There is no doubt that this is a bombshell admission from Damian Lillard. The Portland Trail Blazers clearly want to rebuild, but Lillard should have been given the opportunity to lead this young squad to contention. It is unfortunate that this situation ended up the way it did, but ultimately, Lillard is in a good situation where he can compete for a championship on the Bucks.
This past season, Damian Lillard put up 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game, and it is clear that he is still a superstar-level player. Hopefully, he will find success with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, and we’ll see how well this season goes for them.
The Miami Heat Offered A Huge Trade Package For Damian Lillard
The Miami Heat definitely wanted Damian Lillard on the roster, but ultimately, they failed to acquire him. The Trail Blazers didn’t accept the Heat’s massive trade offer for Lillard, which included Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, three-first-round picks, and multiple second-round picks.
It is clear that the Portland Trail Blazers didn’t want to seriously engage with the Miami Heat in a trade. Things might work out for the better for Lillard though, as he will be joining up with another superstar in Milwaukee. Lillard has never played with a big man as good as Giannis Antetokounmpo, and their games complement each other very well.
The Trail Blazers Have A Solid Young Core
The main return in the Damian Lillard trade for the Portland Trail Blazers was center Deandre Ayton, who averaged 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game during his time with the Phoenix Suns last season. They will pair him with young talents such as Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, and it is clear the team is on its way to building a contender of the future.
Though the Trail Blazers should have clearly handled the Damian Lillard situation better, they are definitely in a good position going forward after moving him. They will be even better once they re-route point guard Jrue Holiday to another team in a separate trade as that will get them even more assets to work with.
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