(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
There has already been some major player movement this offseason in the NBA, as Bradley Beal has been traded to the already-loaded Phoenix Suns and Chris Paul has made his way to the dynastic Golden State Warriors.
But the biggest domino to drop will be Damian Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers superstar who recently asked to be traded.
After years of pledging his loyalty to the Blazers and the city of Portland, he now wants out in order to finally get a real shot at a world championship.
GM Joe Cronin essentially said on Monday that he feels no urgency to trade Lillard, and he also said he hasn’t talked to the guard since he first asked out, according to Tim Bontemps.
Joe Cronin said he has not spoken to Damian Lillard since he made his trade request on July 1.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) July 10, 2023
In 11 seasons with Portland, Lillard has made seven All-Star teams and put up juicy stats just about every season, but the team has gotten to the Western Conference Finals only once, getting swept by the Warriors there in 2019.
The Blazers currently have a decent young core with Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, and incoming rookie Scoot Henderson, but they’re nowhere near winning it all.
Lillard has said he strongly prefers a trade to the Miami Heat, the team that just lost the NBA title to the Denver Nuggets.
Miami has been a title contender when healthy over the past four seasons, but they have greatly lacked the offensive firepower to take it all.
Lillard joining them could be a match made in heaven, and he would take tons of pressure off Jimmy Butler if it ever were to happen.
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