Seven-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard met with Portland Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin on June 26 to talk about the franchise’s direction. After the meeting ended, Cronin released the following statement:
“I met with Dame and Aaron Goodwin this afternoon,” Cronin said. “We had a great dialogue. We remain committed to building a winner around Dame.”
According to Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive, Lillard is not happy about the Blazers’ inability to trade the third overall pick in the 2023 draft for a star. Portland drafted point guard Scoot Henderson with the third pick.
“Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard and his agent will meet Monday with general manager Joe Cronin to discuss the franchise’s plans moving forward, NBA sources have confirmed to The Oregonian/OregonLive,” Fentress wrote. “The relationship between Lillard and the franchise, according to sources, remains on solid ground but the team’s inability to flip the No. 3 pick in Thursday’s NBA draft into a veteran star didn’t sit well with the franchise point guard.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Brooklyn Nets & Miami Heat Updates
Lillard signed a two-year, $121.8 million extension with the Blazers in July 2019. The future Hall of Famer caused a major stir a few weeks ago when he said he would want to get traded to the Miami Heat or Brooklyn Nets if the Blazers decided to move him this summer.
The 32-year-old Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists this past season. Portland has missed the playoffs two years in a row and it appears Lillard has finally grown tired of being on a losing team.
The Heat are waiting for Lillard to request a trade so they can try to acquire him. Miami All-Star center Bam Adebayo is very close friends with Lillard, who has serious interest in playing for the Heat, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Brooklyn Nets & Miami Heat Updates
Lillard has career averages of 25.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists. He’s one of the greatest players in NBA history and could win a championship with the Heat if he finally requests a trade from the Blazers. Miami has reached two NBA Finals since getting All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler in 2019 but is 0-2. Lillard could be the missing piece for the Heat.
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