(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The Portland Trail Blazers are not going anywhere this season, with the team coming to terms with the fact that the NBA playoffs are out of reach.
As a result of the postseason not being an option for Portland, the team has decided to shut down superstar guard Damian Lillard for the rest of the 2022-23 campaign, according to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report.
With injury-plagued Portland Trail Blazers out of the playoff picture, superstar guard Damian Lillard will be held out the remainder of the season, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) March 28, 2023
Real fun for anyone who bought tickets to see Lillard play.
— Rhett Reese (@RhettReese) March 28, 2023
“With the number 1 pick, the Portland Trailblazers select…” pic.twitter.com/ClmBoNzuVn
— J.K. (@sitzfleisch_9) March 28, 2023
Smh sad for the fans and the @nba as a whole at this point. I doubt I am ever paying for another ticket again. As a @BrooklynNets fan I have tons of reasons lol…but its just too hit/miss on who will play and expensive… Adam’s Silvers @nba
— K Rob (@BigKor77) March 28, 2023
I can see it now pic.twitter.com/ucxJycWgfN
— 0 𝒟𝑒𝑔𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓈 (@CookedBy0) March 28, 2023
Please request a trade Dame
— 𝐎𝐆 (@Raptors_OG) March 28, 2023
he’s a laker
— malachiverson (@chiverson_) March 28, 2023
As some of these fan reactions clearly state, the Blazers faithful are not happy about the news that Lillard will be watching from the bench for the last seven games of the regular season.
Along with being unhappy about buying tickets to see their superstar, it appears some are starting to speculate whether Lillard’s time in a Blazers jersey has come to an end.
Over the last few years, Lillard has made it abundantly clear that he wants to remain in Portland for the long haul, and he fully intends to do everything within his power to bring a championship to the Blazers franchise.
Unfortunately, the Blazers’ future looks bleak, and the only logical move for the struggling franchise is to trade its best asset.
That being said, it’ll be interesting to see what moves are made in the NBA offseason and if Lillard finally changes his tune about his future in Portland.
As usual, Lillard put up monster numbers this season, averaging 32.2 points, 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 46.3% from the floor and 37.1% from three-point range.
With Lillard still in his prime and coming off a season that put up these numbers and scoring a career-high 71 points in one game, teams around the league will almost certainly be working the phones to gauge Portland’s interest in a blockbuster trade.
The post Fans React To Today’s Damian Lillard News appeared first on The Cold Wire.