Damian Lillard’s trade request from the Portland Trail Blazers has been met with some ambiguity from the team. While they have acknowledged letting him down and expressed a willingness to find a trade that benefits both parties, actions don’t seem to align with their public statements. Reports suggest that the Blazers are not actively pursuing a trade for Lillard, especially not to his preferred destination, the Miami Heat.
The Blazers have reportedly refused to engage in talks with the Heat, leaving the negotiations in a state of limbo. It’s unclear why they are hesitant to make a deal with Miami or why they seem reluctant to trade Lillard at all, at least for now. As the summer progresses and the start of training camp draws nearer, the pressure for a resolution will inevitably increase.
Reports suggest Damian Lillard Trade talks to be going nowhere
For now, the Blazers may feel they can afford to be patient, given that it’s only July and there’s no immediate urgency to make a trade. This approach could backfire if another team doesn’t step up with a serious offer for Damian Lillard. With Miami seemingly the preferred destination, the lack of progress in negotiations may prompt Lillard to apply additional pressure to force a move.
"If you were a free agent, then you could choose where you were gonna go… This started with James [Harden] and Ben [Simmons] and all these guys doing this sh*t. It's bad for the league."
Austin Rivers on Damian Lillard's trade demand
(via ringernba/TT)pic.twitter.com/IsBfRAlace
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 24, 2023
The Blazers appear to be holding their ground, likely hoping that another team will enter the trade discussions with a compelling offer that they can accept or use as leverage against Miami Heat. There’s uncertainty surrounding their end game, as no such serious offers have materialized yet.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Blazers will proceed and what their ultimate plan is regarding Damian Lillard’s future with the team. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether they genuinely consider trading their star player or whether they continue to keep him on their roster, despite his desire to move on to a new team.
