Damian Lillard Considered Requesting Trade From Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA
NBA Analysis Network

There was a lot of chatter during the NBA offseason involving Portland Trail Blazers star point guard Damian Lillard. Rumors swirled that he would be requesting a trade from the team, looking to go to an organization that was closer to contending for a title.

It was a notion that he pushed back against all offseason. No matter how many reports surfaced or questions he was asked, he remained constant with his response; he was going nowhere. Now a few weeks into the 2021-22 regular season and he has doubled and tripled down on that sentiment.

Lillard wants to be in Portland. The Milwaukee Bucks winning the 2021 NBA Championship convinced Lillard that he can do the same with the Trail Blazers.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Teams Underachieving Most To Start 2021-22 NBA Season

Discussions with new head coach Chauncey Billups and some of the moves that the front office made during the offseason also put Lillard at ease.

But, he did consider requesting a trade from the team at some point during the offseason. Any time he thought about it, he just couldn’t shake the feeling of leaving Portland behind.

“When I was like, ‘Man, what if I’m not back in Portland?’ When I actually had that thought, it just runs so deep with me to win here,” Lillard told Yahoo Sports. “I want to win here. I’ve attached myself to the history of this organization and this city. Just in thinking about how long it’s been since they’ve won, I want to be a part of that coming to an end. I want people to say, ‘When Dame came through here, he rode all the way out for us through the good and the bad. He was ready to sink with the ship.’

Damian Lillard has been opposed to joining what people would consider a super team. He is old-school thinking and should be applauded for that. Sometimes, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side and he understands that fully.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Teams Underachieving Most To Start 2021-22 NBA Season

The Weber State product knows there are no guarantees whether he leaves the Trail Blazers or stays with them. But there is one thing he can guarantee, and that is that he will do things his way.

“So, my best bet is to stick to my guns and do what I care about in my heart. Now, if I was to move on and I get there and it doesn’t work out and then they decide to blow it up, and now I’m a part of a deal going somewhere else. You look at some of the dudes around the league that was at the top of their game and they made one move and now they’re on this team, next year on another team and now they’re somewhere completely different. As much as I want to win, I want to do it my way.”

That has to be something the Portland Trail Blazers ownership and fans have to love to hear. Their star player is committed to them for the long haul; now it is time for them to build that contending roster around him.

NBA Player Under Investigation for Shocking Gambling Scandal

ESPN reported on Monday that Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter faces NBA scrutiny following recent betting discrepancies as the league is “looking into it.” Prop

Massive New NBA Intel on Jrue Holiday’s Celtics Future

The Boston Celtics and Jrue Holiday are on a fast track to securing a long-term contract extension before his looming NBA free agency, and both

Sources: Spurs Eyeing Trade Targets Around Victor Wembanyama

The 2023-24 NBA regular season has not been great for the San Antonio Spurs, who are 15-56, owners of the third worst record in the