It really looks to be a sad state of affairs for the legendary Damian Lillard. After 11 seasons toiling away for the Portland Trail Blazers, and remaining the most loyal superstar out there, in a league where players want out from teams every other fortnight, Lillard is being punished for finally desiring to win a championship before the end of his tenure.
After the drafting of Scoot Henderson, Damian Lillard decided his time in Portland had finally come to a close. Lillard promptly requested a trade and his most favoured destination was the Miami Heat. Perhaps he saw their success in the 2023 playoffs and decided that while they weren’t a superteam, his addition would put them over the top and make it an easy run for his debut ring.
Most fans expected Lillard to be granted his wish considering that he is one of the most respected superstars in the entire league, but apparently, Blazers GM Joe Cronin doesn’t share the same sentiments. Cronin has made it clear that Lillard will only be traded if the returning package from Miami is adequate and satisfies the team’s need for young talent and draft capital. This has been seen by fans as a move made in bad faith due to the unwritten etiquette in the NBA to trade a loyal superstar for their preferred situation.
Damian Lillard remains laser-focused on joining the Miami Heat
Lillard doesn’t seem to be backing down from Cronin either, but that may be his undoing. Reports came out that Dame’s agent Aaron Goodwin had issued a warning to teams that aren’t the Miami Heat, that they shouldn’t try to trade for Lillard as if the trade went through, the franchise would be receiving an unhappy player.
Damian Lillard’s agent Aaron Goodwin has been calling prospective trade partners and “warning against” trading for Dame, per @wojespn
Goodwin has been “telling organizations outside of Miami that trading for Lillard is trading for an unhappy player” pic.twitter.com/HROXeFdDBP
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 6, 2023
Goodwin’s threat seems to have worked, at the moment no teams other than the Heat have made a firm or serious offer for Lillard. We know this due to NBA insider Chris Mannix talking on The Rich Eisen Show.
“Miami’s made an offer but I don’t think Blazers believe it’s the best Miami can & will offer. Around the league, as far as I know there haven’t been any firm offers for Dame. So Miami, somewhat smartly, my belief is they’re making some low ball offers to Portland” @SIChrisMannix pic.twitter.com/F6zBICaurZ
— Dru (@dru_star) July 11, 2023
Mannix said, “Miami has made an offer but I don’t think the Blazers believe it is the best Miami can and will offer and around the league, while there’s been interest in Lillard they’re really, as far as I know, there haven’t been firm offers right now for Lillard as teams kind of look and see how this Miami situation is going to shake out and keep trying to figure out if Lillard really will be disgruntled if he winds up traded there, so Miami you know somewhat smartly is I’m in my belief they’re making some low ball offers to the Blazers trying to get him for as little as possible.
The Miami Heat have been trying to offer the Blazers a package of Tyler Herro and some first-round picks, but Miami’s picks aren’t exactly valuable due to their origin teams. Cronin and the rest of the front office are correct in their proceedings from a franchise standpoint, but from one of morality, Cronin may tend to have a big PR problem on his hands.