In a surprising development, Portland Trail Blazers' star guard Damian Lillard has expressed his desire for a trade, according to sources close to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne. Lillard, who has been with the Blazers since being drafted sixth overall in 2012, endured two playoff-less seasons after eight consecutive postseason appearances. The team's decision to draft guard Scoot Henderson with the third pick further solidified the franchise's future direction. Lillard recently met with general manager Joe Cronin to discuss the team's path forward.
If Lillard were to leave, it would mark the end of an 11-season tenure during which he achieved seven All-Star and All-NBA selections, guiding the Blazers to the playoffs eight times and even reaching the Western Conference finals in 2018-19. He currently holds the top spot in the franchise's history for points and 3-pointers, and ranks second in assists.
Last season, Lillard, who will turn 33 on July 15, had a career-best year, averaging 32.2 points and 7.3 assists per game. However, he played only 58 games, sitting out the final month of the season. One of the standout moments of his season came on February 26 when he exploded for an incredible 71 points against the Houston Rockets.
If Lillard does depart, his scoring average of 32.2 points per game would set a record for the highest average by a player switching teams the following season. The Blazers now face the challenging task of accommodating their star player's trade request and reshaping the franchise for the future.
Comments