ESPN reported Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard is requesting trade

As seen on ESPN, Damian Lillard, the guard for the Portland Trail Blazers, has expressed his desire to be traded after spending his entire 11-season career with the team. The request for a trade was confirmed by Portland’s general manager, Joe Cronin, who stated that while they wanted Lillard to stay, he had informed them of his preference to play elsewhere.

The Miami Heat, LA Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly interested in exploring trade opportunities for Lillard, as per sources from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne. Lillard himself has expressed a preference for being traded to the Miami Heat, according to a source cited by Marc J. Spears from Andscape. It is also worth noting that Lillard holds a great deal of respect for the San Antonio Spurs organization, as revealed by sources from Shelburne.

In light of these developments, the Portland Trail Blazers will be focused on doing what is best for the team and their pursuit of winning, as stated by Cronin.

The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to prioritize trade offers that involve acquiring young players and draft assets, signaling their intention to focus on building for the future.

According to sources, Damian Lillard had been contemplating a trade request and met with the Blazers’ management, including Joe Cronin, on Monday. Lillard wanted to give the team a chance to improve the roster during the opening of free agency, so he remained supportive and kept quiet throughout the week. However, on Friday night, he ultimately made the decision to formally request a trade.

Lillard has remained loyal to the Blazers, the team that drafted him as the No. 6 pick in the 2012 NBA draft, even during two seasons when they failed to make the playoffs after eight consecutive appearances. However, the team’s recent decision to select guard Scoot Henderson with the No. 3 pick in the draft last month made it clear that the franchise’s future direction was shifting.

Given these circumstances, the Blazers will likely be seeking trades that offer promising young talent and future draft picks to shape their path forward.

Despite the fact that free agent signings cannot be made official until Thursday, sources have revealed that the Portland Trail Blazers still plan to sign Jerami Grant to a five-year, $160 million contract, as agreed upon by both parties on Friday.

If Damian Lillard departs from the Blazers, it will mark the end of an era that saw him achieve seven All-Star selections and make numerous All-NBA teams. He notably led Portland to the Western Conference finals in the 2018-19 season. Lillard currently holds the top spot in the Blazers’ history for both points and 3-pointers, while also ranking second in assists.

Lillard, who will turn 33 on July 15, had a standout season last year, posting career-high averages of 32.2 points and 7.3 assists per game. However, he played only 58 games and sat out the final month. One of the highlights of Lillard’s season was his remarkable performance on February 26 against the Houston Rockets, where he exploded for 71 points.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Lillard’s points per game would be the highest ever achieved by a player who changes teams the following season.

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