Damian Lillard to FINALLY DEMAND TRADE? Trail Blazers icon to exit if team doesn’t land superstar before draft
Damian Lillard flirts with possibility of him leaving the franchise if things don't go his way
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Damian Lillard (image via ESPN)
New reports have surfaced that the possibility of Damian Lillard leaving the Portland Trail Blazers is still very much in play as the star threatens a departure if the team doesn’t build to contend.
Damian Lillard has been on every trade talk for the past few years now but the homegrown superstar has denied any move towards a trade. However, the star has flirted with the idea of leaving if the Blazers sets on the path to draft Scoot Henderson with their third pick instead of pairing it with a package for a legitimate running mate for Dame Dolla.
According to a report, Damian Lillard could potentially leave for a contender if his conditions aren’t met: “There is legitimate concern percolating… that Lillard would finally start pushing the Blazers to trade him if Portland ends up drafting Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller.”
Several teams are on the list to pursue Dame if he is ever made available, teams like the Miami Heat, the Lakers, Brooklyn Nets and the Sixers are all in the mix to pursue Dame with Miami having the best shot as the Superstar has already expressed interest in the team. Although the team have expressed that they would be building around Damian Lillard this upcoming season to make a final push for a championship the whole ordeal is still up in the air as passing up on a player like Scoot Henderson is not the best decision from a management standpoint.
Portland is widely believed to be telling teams it is willing to package Anfernee Simons with the No. 3 pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft for win-now talent to put beside star guard Damian Lillard and has killed off any trade proposals regarding Dame from other teams.
Wizards worried that a Dame TRADE request might complicate the market for Bradley Beal
While the Portland Trail Blazers are gearing up for a trade package to find a second superstar, the Washington Wizards are going all in for a rebuild as they have inserted Bradley Beal in the trade market with the Wizards looking for a massive haul.
However, a scenario where Dame entered the trade market brought up concerns for the Wizards’ front office as Lillard’s trade value could deviate from Beal’s potential suitors significantly. Although it is only a percolating assumption that Damian Lillard might start to push a trade, it is already a big concern for the front office headed by Michael Winger as they gear up for a situation where the Blazers decides to draft Scoot Henderson with the 3rd overall pick.
Miami Heat is at the front of the race to acquire Bradley Beal as he is the only star guard available that fits the needs of the Heat but in a scenario where Dame becomes available the Miami Heat are projected to pivot their attention away from Beal and shift their concerns towards acquiring Damian Lillard.
NBA Free agency will start at the beginning of next month on July 1st and big trades are presumably bound to happen with players like Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Brook Lopez all available in the trade market.
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Gerard Crispin
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