- Ramona Shelburne says it’s time for Damian Lillard and the Blazers to make peace
- Trade discussions could be renewed before NBA training camp
- The growing player empowerment trend is harming the NBA brand
As one of the last remaining NBA loyalists, Damian Lillard’s trade request came as a shock to many across the basketball world. While experts initially predicted a clean breakup between Lillard and the Blazers, their lack of motivation to move the 7x All-Star is threatening to turn the tide on this whole ordeal.
Speaking on NBA Today this week, NBA insider Ramona Shelburne warned of the repercussions if this saga continues to drag out. “This is not good for the league,” said Shelburne. “This isn’t good for Portland or Dame or anybody involved. Nobody wants to see this go in an ugly fashion. People are coming back from vacations. I think you could see some renewed discussions as we approach the beginning of this year.”
“This is not good for the league. This isn’t good for Portland or Dame or anybody involved. Nobody wants to see this go in an ugly fashion. People are coming back from vacations. I think you could some renewed discussions as we approach the beginning of this year”@ramonashelburne pic.twitter.com/4IH2yANgUH
— Dru (@dru_star) September 7, 2023
Both sides have tried to stay cordial, but frustration is mounting for everyone as the new season approaches. Lillard, who played 11 seasons with the Trail Blazers, has nothing left to give the franchise after repeated failed playoff runs.
Last season, despite averaging a career-high 32.2 points per game on 46.3% shooting, the Blazers finished just 13th in the West and failed to even qualify for the play-in tournament. This summer, Lillard finally had enough, but it may already be too late to change his future.
Lillard Trade Talks Are At A Standstill
As one of the top point guards in the game today, coming off his best season yet, one might think that Damian Lillard would be a hot commodity on the trade market. Unfortunately for the Blazers, however, Lillard limited their options when he revealed his intentions to join the Miami Heat.
The Heat, who have a very limited pool of assets, have been working hard to acquire Lillard, but it remains to be seen if they have what’s needed to get a deal done. With a potential trade package of Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, and a pool of draft picks, their best offer hasn’t been enough to move the Blazers. Now, with just weeks to go before the start of the season, it’s being reported that talks are completely nonexistent and it’s likely that Dame will start the season with Portland.
Player Empowerment Is Ruining The NBA
No matter what happens with Lillard, the NBA is going to have to address the player empowerment trend. Back in the day, superstars like Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, and Bill Russell spent their entire careers with the franchise that drafted them. Today, that’s a pretty rare occurrence, with the top players often swapping jerseys every couple of years (like Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and James Harden).
These trade demands basically kill small-market teams and they can ruin parity for the fans who like to see new teams at the top every single year. In the case of Lillard, this ordeal is not going according to plan. Despite having been weeks since his request, he’s still in a Blazers jersey and now the fans are starting to turn on him too. In the end, it’s just a bad look for everyone involved and a sour way to end things after such an incredible 10+ year run.
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