Damian Lillard UPSET at Trail Blazers for Scoot Henderson pick, allegedly wanted franchise to trade for superstar

Lillard unhappy with Blazers’ draft, may want out of Portland

Damian Lillard UPSET at Trail Blazers for Scoot Henderson pick, allegedly wanted franchise to trade for superstar

Damian Lillard, left, and Blazers' No.3 pick Scoot Henderson, right (Images via Getty)

The Portland Trail Blazers made a bold move in the 2023 NBA Draft, picking G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson with the No. 3 overall pick. Henderson is a talented and athletic prospect, but he may not be the best fit for the Blazers’ current star, Damian Lillard.

Lillard, who has been loyal to Portland for his entire 11-year career, was reportedly not pleased with the team’s decision to use the pick instead of trading it for a more established player who could help him compete for a championship. According to Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report podcast, Lillard and his camp were expecting the Blazers to make a trade with the pick and were not happy when they didn’t.

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“When it comes to what happened in the draft, from everything I’ve heard, Dame & his people were not thrilled that [Portland] used the pick. They had kind of been telegraphing that if [Portland] decided to use the pick, then a conversation is going to have to take place” Highkin said on his podcast.

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Lillard has been the subject of trade rumors for several seasons, but he has never expressed an interest in leaving Portland. That could change this offseason if Lillard feels like the team is not doing enough to build a contender around him.

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Blazers’ draft pick adds to the uncertainty surrounding Damian Lillard’s future

Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard of the Portland Blazers (Via Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports)

The Portland Trail Blazers have been stuck in mediocrity for the past few years. Lillard has carried the team with his stellar play, averaging a career-high 32.2 points per game last season, but he has not received enough support from his teammates or the front office.

The Blazers’ draft pick of Henderson adds another layer of uncertainty to Lillard’s future with the team. He is an explosive athlete and a dynamic scorer who averaged 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game in the G League. However, Henderson is also very young and inexperienced, and he may not be ready to contribute right away at the NBA level. He also plays the same position as Lillard, which could create some redundancy and friction on the court.

According to Showtime’s The Last Stand podcast, Lillard named the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat as “obvious” destinations for him due to his relationships with Mikal Bridges and Bam Adebayo.

This will be an important offseason for the Blazers, but only time will tell how things play out for both Lillard and Henderson.

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