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After 11 years and publicly declaring his loyalty towards the Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard eventually gave in to the trend. He ultimately asked the team that drafted him in 2012 to trade him.
More than just trying to force his way out of Rip City, “Dame” is also demanding that he be moved nowhere else but to Miami. Blazers GM Joe Cronin responded that the team was willing to play the long game instead of just trading their franchise player to accommodate him.
Here’s a quick timeline and live updates of Damian Lillard trade rumors
July 2: The Portland Trail Blazers, based on reports, want the best offer available in return for Damian Lillard. The Miami Heat will be considered if they can give the Blazers the haul they expect for the seven-time All-Star.
July 4: Miami’s trade offer that is reportedly centered around former Sixth Man of the Year winner Tyler Herro was rumored to have not piqued Portland’s interest.
July 6: Aaron Godwin, Lillard’s longtime agent sends a message to NBA teams that put the Blazers in a deeper bind. Godwin warned interested teams that the point guard doesn’t want to play anywhere else but in South Beach.
July 15: Teams such as the Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors reportedly signaled their interest in helping the Heat get Damian Lillard. The catch is for Tyler Herro to move to one of the aforementioned teams.
Miami’s offer will increase to an extra first-round pick in place of Herro. Players rumored to be included in the package were Kyle Lowry, Nikola Jovic, Duncan Robinson, Caleb Martin and rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr.
July 30: The NBA sends a memo to the rest of the teams interested in trading for Damian Lillard. It emphasized that Lillard will honor his contract to the team that acquires him. “Dame” and Aaron Godwin were also threatened with disciplinary action for their previous act of warning teams not to get Lillard.
August 5: In an interview with Brendan Topin of WQAM, Bam Adebayo had this to say about the Lillard situation:
“Me and Dame do have a connection. We do have a type of brotherhood, but it's business. Both sides want it to make sense, and I'm not a part of that. The only thing I can do is spread my influence, and me and Dame continue to be close friends.”
August 7: Damian Lillard takes what could be a veiled shot at the Portland Trail Blazers. Citing J. Cole, the former Rookie of the Year winner went on social media to post this:
"Either you play the game or let the game play you and be that broke mf talking bout I stayed true"
August 19: Lillard unfollows the Blazers on IG and follows Heat icon Udonis Haslem. Whether a trade is imminent or not is something fans will be watching out for.
August 20: Damian Lillard started following the Miami Heat. Arguably the biggest name in the offseason that wants to be traded could be signaling that things are going to end his way.
September 11: The Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers could re-engage in trade talks now that the 2023 FIB World Cup is over and training camp nears.
Shams Charania had the latest on the Lillard standoff:
"I’m told that at this point, I’m told that the only two training camps that Damian Lillard would report to, in theory: Portland and Miami. So, if a team like Toronto, for instance, were to trade for Damian Lillard, I do not believe that he would even report.
"That standing trade request would still be there if he’s traded to a team like Toronto or anyone else that wants to take a chance in this situation."
September 23: The Chicago Bulls and the Toronto Raptors are emerging as potential suitors for Damian Lillard. Yahoo! Sports reported this:
“At this juncture, Toronto and Chicago have been the two possible destinations for Lillard most discussed by league figures. While a collection of NBA personnel expect Portland to engage Miami before finalizing something with another suitor, the Heat have not factored primarily in the Blazers’ recent dialogue surrounding Lillard, league sources said.”
Blazers GM Joe Cronin told the media two months ago that he would not just accomodate Lillard. The team will be looking for the best package for the superstar point guard. It wouldn't be a surprise on Portland's end to take calls from interested teams.
