New Damian Lillard Report Puts Final Dagger in Futile Jazz Trade Hopes

If it wasn’t clear enough before, Portland Trail Blazers G Damian Lillard has his mind set on one trade destination.

If you asked any basketball fan what the biggest storyline of the 2023 NBA offseason was, many (if not all) would claim that G Damian Lillard’s trade request would place at the top of the list. After spending 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, the franchise cornerstone made the long-awaited decision to request a trade from the only team he has ever played for.

However, that request did not come without steep hurdles. The hurdles faced are so steep that this request has been dragging along for over two months without any sign of change. Lillard singled out the 2023 NBA Finals runner-up Miami Heat as the sole team he would play for in the event of a deal, effectively creating some logistical obstacles along the way.

Many other teams floated around the radar as a potential suitor, including the Utah Jazz. Given Lillard's alma mater of Weber State, located 30 minutes from Delta Center, combined with the plentiful assets on hand with Danny Ainge, it generated an intriguing longshot bid for the opportunity to net the 7x All-Star.

Fast forward two months, the longshot bid to acquire him has been just that: a longshot.

Lillard has stayed headstrong in his pursuit to land in South Beach, driving any other suitor out of the business to trade for him. The last thing any front office in the league wants to do is spend an abundance of assets for a disgruntled star, so none did. It has led to actually making the desired trade for any team nearly impossible.

The trend of failing to come to terms with any trade agreement continues with the newest report from Shams Charania of The Athletic. He states that in the event of a trade involving Lillard, he would likely not show up at training camp unless the move was to the Heat specifically.

“At this point… the only two training camps that Damian Lillard would report to, in theory: Portland and Miami.”

(via @ShamsCharania, @TheRally)

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— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) September 11, 2023

“At this point, I’m told the only two training camps that Damian Lillard would report to, in theory: Portland and Miami. So, if a team like Toronto, for instance, were to trade for a Damian Lillard. I do not believe Lillard would even report. I believe that staying trade request would still be there if he were to be traded to a team like Toronto or anyone else really that wants to take a chance at this situation."

While Lillard himself has remained relatively quiet throughout this entire process, this report aligns well with every other indication we have surrounding this situation. Simply, If this trade is not to the Heat, do not bother calling. 

It’s a strong-willed strategy, but it might just pay off for the longtime Trail Blazer star. Charania details a deal could pick up traction between Portland and Miami as training camp inches closer. Still, it continues to leave many fans and teams alike in the dog days of this grueling request.

One thing still remains: don’t get your hopes up on a Damian Lillard deal to Salt Lake City.

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