2023-07-12 11:15:00
New update in the Damian Lillard file: things are not progressing. Despite the player’s very clear desire to leave for Miami, the Blazers are in no hurry to transfer their leader because they are looking for the best possible consideration. According to several serious sources, they might even wait until…this winter before parting ways with him. We review the case.
The summer soap opera continues!
More than ten days following Damian Lillard’s trade request, negotiations seem to have stalled between Portland and Miami, the only destination desired by the player. Even the Las Vegas Summer League, known as the place where executives meet to talk business, doesn’t seem to get things done. For good reason, the Blazers are more than ever determined to recover the best possible consideration for their star, even if his transfer takes… several months. According to the journalistESPN Zach Lowe, the Oregon franchise would even be ready to keep Lillard and only trade him this winter.
“The buzz in Las Vegas is that the Blazers aren’t completely bluffing when they say, ‘If he’s still on the team in training camp, that’s okay. We’re ok with that’.” (Bleacher Report via The Lowe Post podcast)
We might therefore find ourselves in a situation similar to that of Ben Simmons two years ago. The Australian had requested his trade in the summer of 2021 but had not been transferred until the 2022 trade deadline, more than six months later. We also remember the Kevin Durant file, transferred by the Nets in February 2023 following his transfer request at the end of June 2022.
For the Blazers, this scenario is a real possibility, since Lillard is still under contract for four years and his value is not likely to drop in a few months. They therefore have no interest in rushing his trade, and Joe Cronin intends to take his time. At the risk of Lillard sulking and refusing to play… but that would hardly be a problem for Portland, who will have no other objective than to develop their young talents this season.
“The player still has four years of contract. The Blazers have no obligation to act. They can take their time and see if he comes to training camp. If they want to wait until February to transfer it, they can.” (Bleacher Report via Ramona Shelburne d’ESPN pour NBA Today)
The real risk is that the story between Lillard and his heart franchise ends badly. A separation on bad terms following more than ten years of relationship, it’s a stain, but the two camps have different interests which they intend to promote. If Dame continues to refuse a franchise other than the Heat and Portland does not make concessions on the counterpart, the affair might well drag on … unless other teams get involved, as it might be the case of the Clippers. According to the insider ofESPN Adrian Wojnarowski, the LA franchise would like to enter discussions and become a transfer partner, but do not seem to have the necessary assets for this.
Damian Lillard trade update via @wojespn:
– The Heat are the “most motivated” team to trade for Lillard.
– The Clippers would love to be involved in the process, but they don’t have the necessary assets Portland is seeking.
– The Trail Blazers don’t love Miami’s offer, but it… pic.twitter.com/VuRdMU5bXy
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 11, 2023
The latest news from the Woj is as follows: Miami is still the franchise most motivated to recover Lillard, but Portland considers the offer too weak. This, however, might be the best offer made to the Blazers, which would lead them to wait to raise the offer of Floridians, probably in a hurry to recover the seven-time All-Star.
The Lillard case is not progressing and it seems set to last. The Blazers will be patient, no worries for them if they have to wait for winter to transfer him. What if Dame hadn’t yet played her last match in Portland’s jersey?
Source texte : ESPN
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