Seven-time All-Star star Damian Lillard (33) moves.
Local media such as ‘The Athletic’, ‘Bleacher Report’ and ‘ESPN’ quoted sources in the early morning of the 2nd (Korean time) and reported that Lillard requested a trade from his team, the Portland Trail Blazers.
According to this, Lillard met with general manager Joe Cronin on June 26 local time to discuss the future of the team. The trade request is a response that came after a meeting with the general manager.
Lillard asked for a trade. Photo =ⓒAFPBBNews = News1ESPN said the Trail Blazers team will work to accommodate this.
Lillard has played for one team ever since he was drafted by Portland with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 draft.
He played in 769 career games, recorded 19,376 points, 3253 rebounds and 5151 assists. He ranks first on the team in points and three-pointers made, and second in assists.
During his 11 seasons with Portland, he was named an All-Star and All-NBA seven times and was named Rookie of the Year for the 2012–13 season. In the 2018–19 season he reached the conference finals.
He averaged 32.2 points and 7.3 assists per game in 58 games last season, a career high. Still, the team failed to advance to the playoffs.
Portland was preparing to say goodbye to Lillard by appointing guard Scott Henderson with the third overall pick in this draft.
The Athletic’s NBA reporter Shames Charania cited multiple sources and said Lillard had pointed to the Miami Heat as a possible trade destination.
ESPN pointed out Miami, LA Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers as teams to be interested in.
