One NBA writer believes the Portland Trail Blazers will trade Damian Lillard before the 2023-24 regular season starts. Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report thinks “it would do the Trail Blazers no good to bring a disgruntled Lillard to training camp.”
“The Blazers are well in their right to get the best possible return for their superstar guard,” Swartz wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “However, the human aspect of wanting to do right by Lillard and trade him before the season starts to give his family time to get settled is important, too. It would do the Trail Blazers no good to bring a disgruntled Lillard to training camp and force the rest of their young core to deal with an added distraction, either.
“The two sides should still be cordial enough to work something out before training camps open, whether it’s a trade to the Heat or another destination.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Lillard requested to be traded from the Blazers to only the Miami Heat on July 1. He 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 still wants the Blazers to trade him to the Heat despite the NBA’s initiative to warn Lillard and his agent that any further comments made “suggesting Lillard will not fully perform the services called for under his player contract in the event of a trade” will be subject to discipline, according to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Lillard is close friends with Heat center Bam Adebayo and believes he can win an NBA championship in Miami playing alongside Jimmy Butler and Adebayo. The Heat have been working on a trade package for Lillard 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.
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.
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