7-time All-Star and Portland Trail Blazers legend Damian Lillard appear to have finally run out of patience with the franchise. Reports claimed that the Dame is looking to move to the Maimi Heat and has already requested a trade. The potential move would come against the backdrop of Lillard previously ridiculing Paul George for chasing championships by switching teams, back in August 2020. A Reddit user shared a Bleacher Report article concerning the incident, as Lillard nears the end of his time in Portland.
Advertisement
After being with the Trail Blazers since 2012, Lillard has finally grown disillusioned with the front office’s failure to build a championship-contending team around him. The 32-year had a career-high with respect to average points but his team finished 13th in the Western Conference. An offseason that was expected to result in endured speculation appears to be already nearing conclusion. The Dame has limited years left to win a championship and no longer trusts that it will happen in Portland.
Damian Lillard once ridiculed Paul George for “chasing championships”
The Portland Trail Blazers found themselves against the LA Clippers, with the likes of Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Patrick Beverley. Lillard missed two freethrows that would have given his team the lead with less than 20 seconds left.
However, he ended up missing them, leading to a 122-117 victory for the Clippers. Both Beverley and PG had taunted the Dame, who did not take it lightly. The feud escalated on Instagram, where Lillard hilariously mocked George for his move from the OKC Thunder:
“Keep switching teams… You boys is chumps.”
Now, however, things seem to have come full circle, with Lillard appearing to be pushing for a trade to the Miami Heat. While a link-up with Jimmy Butler sounds as tasty as things can get, fans have pointed out his previous comments as evidence of hypocrisy.
A San Diego Union Tribune report regarding the incident was shared on the r/NBA subreddit. It led to a range of reactions from supporters. Of course, most seem to agree with Lillard’s decision, with chances of a championship run at the Trail Blazers looking very unlikely.
How would things look at Miami Heat with Lillard?
The Miami Heat are expected to include the likes of Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, and multiple picks in any trade offer for Lillard. Butler is understood to already have pointed out his desire to play alongside the Dame, which is understandable.
Lillard showed last season that he still had a few years left at the highest level. At the age of 32, he had a career-high in points(32.2) with 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game.
Apart from the mutual interest, there are other positives as well. Miami has a host of pieces that they can use. These include Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin, and Nikola Jovic.
The Heat already have Jimmy Butler who has consistently been terrific in the Playoffs. In Damian Lillard, another high-ability clutch player can arrive without stripping away too much of the current roster. The trade, as it stands, is a no-brainer.
