The NBA recently rekindled the wildfire of Damian Lillard trade rumors after it had died down following some extraordinary NBA free agency signings. Earlier this month, Lillard shocked the NBA world by demanding a trade out of Portland after a long-lasting show of loyalty for the Oregon side. Reports suggested that the 33-year-old ardently wishes to join Jimmy Butler and co. in Miami and would like the Trail Blazers to facilitate a trade accommodating the same. However, the NBA put a stop to all such demands by issuing a memo prohibiting Lillard and his agent from trying to influence a trade. Meanwhile, Dame Dolla ended up surprising the NBA community further by liking a social media post that reported on the NBA’s memo.
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Damian Lillard still has three years remaining in his contract, along with a player option. He is set to earn a staggering $45,640,084 this year under his current contract with Portland, which doesn’t have a no-trade clause. Therefore, the Trail Blazers are not exactly jumping in to trade their prized possession to Miami, despite the wishes of the franchise’s most iconic player.
The NBA warns Damian Lillard and his agent of disciplinary actions
Damian Lillard’s desire to join Pat Riley’s famed Heat Culture in Miami has been an open secret for weeks now. In fact, Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin had reportedly confirmed the Blazers star’s intentions in no uncertain terms a few weeks ago. “I do what I should for my client. Some teams I did call. Other teams have called me…It’s a respectful relationship with most teams. Truthfully, he wants to play in Miami. Period,” the Herald had quoted Goodwin.
However, Goodwin has denied calling any teams to facilitate Lillard’s trade to Miami, the NBA claimed in its memo to the 30 teams. The memo has also warned that the league will be undertaking disciplinary measures against Lillard and Goodwin if they continue to speak, whether publicly or privately, about a potential trade to Miami and about the seven-time All-Star not playing to the fullest of his abilities in case of a different scenario.
Chris Haynes’ excerpt of the report also added, “Goodwin and Lillard affirmed to us that Lillard would fully perform the services called for under his player contract in any trade scenario…We have advised Goodwin and Lillard that any future comments, made privately to teams or publicly, suggesting Lillard will not fully perform the services called for under his player contract in the event of a trade will subject Lillard to discipline by the NBA.”
Meanwhile, Damian Lillard showed that he is complicit with the terms of the memo following his meeting with the NBA. In fact, the Blazers star liked a Bleacher Report post that reported the contents of the league’s memo.
As things have turned out, the pressure is increasing on Lillard to accept whatever trade the Blazers offer him. The prospect of a Miami deal has been thwarted by Portland’s lack of interest in the 2022 Sixth Man of the Year, Tyler Herro.
Dame mistakenly liked a controversial post
Dame Dolla triggered another set of backlash recently after liking a social media post that called for a change of ownership in the Blazers organization. The post demanded Phil Knight to take the reigns of the franchise from the organization’s current owner Jody Allen.
However, Lillard soon went on ‘Instagram Live’ to call the while fiasco a ‘mishap’. He stated that he has no interest in a change of ownership in Portland. The veteran star also stressed on Allen’s solid relationship with him and his family.
