With Bradley Beal being shipped to the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster trade with the Washington Wizards, the attention turns to the immediate future of Damian Lillard with the Portland Trail Blazers and whether he’ll be traded during this NBA offseason.
Despite Lillard being very vocal about being loyal to the Blazers over the years, this summer might be the end of an era in Portland, with the team intending on keeping the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and continuing with the youth movement rather than surrounding their superstars with veteran talent.
Lillard wants the team to move the pick to bring in proven players rather than another young player that will need time to grow and keep the Blazers from being where they need to be to compete in the Western Conference.
With Lillard’s future hanging in the balance, the Miami Heat have been ultra-aggressive in trying to trade for him, but according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who recently appeared on The Pat McAfee Show, Portland is shutting down trade offers for their superstar guard.
“Miami is very anxiously waiting to see what happens in Portland..
As of right now the Blazers have shut down anybody who has called for Damian Lillard”@wojespn #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/5hhZZPniDB
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 21, 2023
Although Wojnarowski claims the Blazers aren’t taking trade calls for Lillard, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that the team has a change of heart and makes a deal to send the perennial All-Star to Miami or elsewhere.
However, the clock is ticking with the draft set to take place tomorrow night, with all signs now pointing to Portland taking Scoot Henderson as the San Antonio Spurs will go with Victor Wembanyama at No. 1 and the Charlotte Hornets expected to take Brandon Miller at No. 2.
