Blazers have ‘zero desire’ to trade superstar Damian Lillard
In the weeks leading up to the 2023 NBA draft, the storyline around the Portland Trail Blazers concerns star point guard Damian Lillard’s future.
Lillard hasn’t voiced a desire for a trade, but there is a growing sense that he could finally want out if the Blazers don’t build a contending team around him. Much of that talk centered on what the franchise would do with the third overall pick.
Chatter around the situation sensed that if Portland chose to use the selection rather than trade it to get more roster help, it would signal that Lillard’s tenure could soon come to a close.
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The Blazers chose to use the pick to take G-League standout Scoot Henderson. After the draft, general manager Joe Cronin voiced that he wants to retain Lillard to play alongside Henderson.
“I would say that my goal is to keep both of them,” Cronin said via ESPN. “I would love to see Dame retire a Trail Blazer. I have zero desire to trade him. I really hope this works out here. And I think you can tell how excited I am about Scoot Henderson. He has a chance to be a special player in this league.”
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Although the two could become a promising duo, Lillard’s timeline for NBA title contention is much different than Henderson’s. He’s still playing at a high level, but he’s 32 years old with a ticking clock on his remaining years of playing at a high level.
It may just be a matter of time before Lillard finally demands of Portland.
