Damian Lillard reportedly wants the rest of the league to know he has a clear preferred landing spot.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (h/t Bleacher Report), agent Aaron Goodwin is “warning” all but one team not to pursue the Portland Trail Blazers star. Goodwin is “telling organizations outside of Miami that trading for Lillard is trading for an unhappy player.”
Damian Lillard's agent Aaron Goodwin has been calling prospective trade partners and "warning against" trading for Dame, per @wojespn
Goodwin has been "telling organizations outside of Miami that trading for Lillard is trading for an unhappy player" pic.twitter.com/HROXeFdDBP
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 6, 2023
However, Blazers general manager Joe Cronin remains steadfast in receiving the best package for the longtime franchise cornerstone. He “doesn’t plan to operate a transfer portal” to Miami at Lillard’s behest.
“Ownership plans to honor Lillard’s request for a trade, but Blazers officials are telling teams they’ll move Lillard for only the deepest return of assets available,” Wojnarowski wrote. “Portland is pursuing the sliding scale superstar package of desirable draft picks and high-level young players. For the summer, Cronin’s betting the market over Miami.”
Wojnarowski has said Portland isn’t interested in what Miami can offer. The Blazers don’t want Tyler Herro at the start of a four-year, $120 million extension.
As a result, it’d likely take a third team to send Lillard to South Beach. If they can’t make a move to Miami work, Woj noted that it’d “take some strength” to keep the 32-year-old instead.
Lillard formally requested a trade after 11 seasons in Portland. The Blazers have missed the playoffs in consecutive years and haven’t won a playoff series since reaching the 2019 Western Conference Finals.
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