No matter how many times Damian Lillard declares his loyalty to the Portland Trail Blazers, there will be people who think he should demand a trade away from the organization.
Stephen A. Smith is one of these people.
During Tuesday’s episode of First Take, the ESPN analyst said Lillard should have demanded a trade away from Portland “years ago.”
“Damian Lillard is one of the great, great guards this game has ever seen… He’s given this organization everything he’s had. It hasn’t worked… He should’ve BEEN left that organization,” Smith said.
.@stephenasmith says Damian Lillard should've left Portland years ago ????
"Damian Lillard is one of the great, great guards this game has ever seen. … He's given this organization everything he's had. It hasn't worked. … He should've BEEN left that organization." pic.twitter.com/xWkG6i2rd4
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 21, 2023
Lillard and the Blazers have a tough road ahead if they want to make this year’s postseason. After losing each of their last six games, the team is 3.5 games back from the final No. 10 play-in spot.
Lillard is clearly dejected by his team’s failure this season.
“We pretty much fallen out of the race for the 10th spot,” Lillard said after Sunday’s loss. “I love to play, I love the competition and I haven’t been ready to give that up. But it does come a point in time when do you stop putting your competitive nature out front.”
Portland could reportedly shut Lillard down for the season sometime in the very near future.
Lillard has been with the Blazers since they selected him with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2012 draft. In his now 11th season, he’s averaging a career-high 32.2 points per game — but it’s not enough.
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