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The Portland Trail Blazers have put the word out there that they will not give up on Damian Lillard unless they get fair value in return.
Lillard is under contract for two more years, so they have every right to try and maximize his value now that he finally wants to leave the team.
Nonetheless, as valid as their stance is, Stephen A. Smith of ESPN believes they’re not being fair to Lillard.
Per Stephen A., via “First Take,” Lillard has given them more than enough, so it’s about time they do right by him.
He realizes that Lillard’s camp pretty much ruined all his leverage by leaking that he only wants to play for the Miami Heat, but he also thinks the Blazers should be more grateful for their star player.
“Portland’s trying to play hardball right now. We understand that Dame sort of handicapped them to some degree by letting the world know [Miami] was the one team he wanted to go to…I think he’s given enough time to Portland & he deserves to go where he wants to go”@stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/e2eBbOvRMy
— Dru (@dru_star) August 31, 2023
Of course, this is a rather controversial debate, as the Blazers have given Lillard hundreds of millions of dollars, so it’s not like they haven’t done right by him throughout the course of his career.
Also, it’s one thing to want to be traded, but handpicking your trade destination could set a dangerous precedent for the rest of the league, and the Commissioner has already warned all parties involved about this.
This is a ruthless business.
Lillard has earned every right to leave a team that has failed him over and over.
But on the other hand, he did sign a contract, and the Blazers need to think of him as an asset and nothing more, as cruel as it may sound.
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