Damian Lillard has unfollowed the Portland Trail Blazers on Instagram. The NBA star requested a trade from the Blazers to the Miami Heat on July 1.
Lillard has spent all 11 seasons of his NBA career with Portland, which selected him with the sixth pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. The Blazers finished 33-49 and 13th in the Western Conference last season.
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 season. Lillard was upset the Blazers didn’t trade the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft for a star player. Portland drafted Scoot Henderson, who plays the same position as Lillard, with the third pick.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Miami Heat & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists last season for the Blazers. He will make $46.6 million next season. The future Hall of Famer signed a two-year, $121.8 million extension with Portland in July 2022.
Miami has been working on a trade package for Lillard made up of expiring contracts, three to four first-round picks and one of the team’s younger players, with Tyler Herro going to a third team. The deal could potentially also involve second-rounders and draft pick swaps, according to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The Blazers, though, continue to show no interest in trading Lillard to the Heat, according to NBA insider Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Portland is seeking four first-round picks and two quality players in return for Lillard.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Miami Heat & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
One of the best players in NBA history, Lillard only wants to get traded to the Heat because he’s close friends with Bam Adebayo and believes he can win an NBA championship in Miami playing alongside Jimmy Butler and Adebayo.
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