Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has no idea if he’ll be coaching Damian Lillard next NBA season.
Lillard has requested a trade from the Blazers and wants to get traded to the Miami Heat, but since the star point guard doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, Portland doesn’t have to honor his trade request.
Billups talked to Justin Termine and Frank Isola on SiriusXM NBA Radio about Lillard’s trade request.
Lillard was upset the Blazers didn’t trade the third overall pick in the 2023 draft for a star player. Portland drafted Scoot Henderson, who plays the same position as Lillard, with the third pick. Lillard expressed his frustration with the Blazers in recent years for failing to construct a roster capable of making a title push. The Weber State product felt the time was now to request a trade after coming off a career year.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Lillard has spent his entire career with the Blazers, who drafted him with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 draft. Lillard has career averages of 25.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists with Portland. He’s the Blazers’ all-time leading scorer.
The Heat are the only team Lillard wants to get traded to. The seven-time All-Star has no interest in playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks or Brooklyn Nets.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
The Blazers have not been impressed by the Heat’s trade package for Lillard, who averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists last season. The Heat, who have reached two NBA Finals since Jimmy Butler came to Miami in 2019, believe they can win it all next season with Lillard in the fold next to Butler and Bam Adebayo.
Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, has reached out to teams not named the Heat, telling them not to trade for Lillard, who only wants to play for Miami.
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