Damian Lillard said on the “It Is What It Is” show that he wasn’t offended the Portland Trail Blazers drafted Scoot Henderson with the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Lillard, who has requested a trade from the Blazers, respects Henderson’s game.
There were rumors going around that Lillard was upset the Blazers didn’t trade the third pick in the 2023 draft for a star player. It appears those stories were false.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson, 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.
A future Hall of Famer, 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. Lillard signed a two-year, $121.8 million extension with Portland in July 2022.
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.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
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.
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