Damian Lillard Trade Rumors: Timeline of Reports, Possible Landing Points for the Trail Blazers Star

It’s no secret that some teams will be interested in Damian Lillard if he asks for a trade or is offered by the Trail Blazers.

Kicker? Neither of those things have happened yet, and there’s no clear indication that they’ll happen anytime soon.

However, that hasn’t stopped Lillard’s name from making headlines since Portland’s first-round loss to short-armed team Denver in the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Lillard isn’t shy about responding to some news. rumors and continue to show loyalty to the Trail Blazers.

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Damian Lillard Commercial Rumor Timeline

On June 27, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports report that the backlash from Portland’s hiring a new head coach and concerns about whether the Trail Blazers can build a championship contender “have become factors that could push” Lillard out the door. .

Less than a month later, on July 16, Henry Abbott of TrueHoop report that Lillard planned to request the transaction “in the coming days”, for various reasons.

Lillard was quick to respond to the report, denying that he intended to request the transaction, but he also made it clear that he wanted to “win them all“and want Trail Blazers”are taking steps towards that. “

Lillard expanded on that point in a lengthy interview with Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports published on the same day.

“I think that’s the stage where we’re in a team where all of us, not just me, not just my teammates, not just our new coaching staff, the main office, everyone in the team. this organization had to look in the mirror because we were constantly appearing flawed We had to look in the mirror and say I had to get better because whatever we were doing wasn’t working and it didn’t give us the opportunity to compete at the level we wanted to compete.”

Nearly two weeks later, on July 29, Lillard and Abbott were back together on Twitter.

At the media day ahead of the 2021-22 season, Lillard was once again asked if his name was linked to the rumors during the season.

“A lot of times there is a buzz about things people report that never come from me,” Lillard said. “I don’t think my job is to control buzz, positive or negative. I know where my heart is, and so do my teammates.”

Lillard clearly said that The athlete’s Jason Quick days before the start of the regular season: “People are saying what they think I’m thinking and what they think I’m going to do, but like, I’m not leaving Portland, you know?”

There have been a few more reports in the months since.

Slow start to the season for the Trail Blazers, The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Sam Amick report on 6 December that Lillard had become “disappointed with the team’s play,” adding that tensions appeared to “increase between the players and [head coach Chauncey] Billups. “

Lillard took to Twitter to respond.

The next day, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN report that Lillard is seeking a two-year, $107 million extension in July, which has caused some turmoil in the Trail Blazers, who are in transition following the firing of basketball executive chairman Neil Olshey.

Lillard responded with the following post:

Lillard has preached loyalty to the Trail Blazers time and time again in his career. He went as far as saying that “Achilles heel“might end up being his reluctance to join a super team in a recent freestyle competition. However, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report has reported that there is a belief around the league that he he can”finally request trading before the 2022-23 season. “

In other words, we’re not close to hearing the end of this.

Damian Lillard might have landing spots

There were reports that the 76ers were interested in buying Lillard, but ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that he “Unavailable“will be discussed.

Another team that has been linked to Lillard throughout this process is the Knicks. The New York Post’s Marc Berman reported during the season that the Knicks had “had been monitoring Lillard’s situation for months, interested in packing a pack for superstar Blazers. “Stephen A Smith of ESPN later reported on August 1 that if Lillard were traded, the Knicks would be his”number one destination. “

Other teams that could offer an attractive package – some combination of wages, young stars, prospects and draft picks – include the Pelicans, Celtics, Warriors, Raptors and Heat. As it stands, the Lakers face an uphill battle over buying another star, but it sound sure like LeBron James who tried to recruit Lillard during the season, and Lillard from California.

Damian Lillard’s salary

Including this season, Lillard has three guaranteed seasons on his contract. He has a $48.8 million player selection for the 2024-25 season.