Longtime Lakers All-Star Trade Target Leaves LA Out of Preferred Destinations

Should Los Angeles still pursue him?

For as long as anyone can remember, Portland Trail Blazers star point guard Damian Lillard and the Los Angeles Lakers have been linked together. Lillard has been the subject for trade rumors for years and anytime his name is mentioned, Los Angeles gets brought up. But Lillard has been reluctant to leave Portland due to loyalty and his want to win with Rip City. 

However, it has seemed a little more real of late as the team starts to rethink their direction. Lillard himself has even spoken about the idea and on The Last Stand Podcast, he talked about preferring a trade to either the Miami Heat or Brooklyn Nets if traded.

"Miami, obviously. ... Bam is my dawg. ... Brooklyn is another obvious one, because Mikal Bridges is my dawg, too."

-Damian Lillard on preferred hypothetical trade destination out of Miami, Boston, New York and Brooklyn

(via @shobasketball, Last Stand Podcast) pic.twitter.com/R74ct7CY2i

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 7, 2023

Lillard left out the Lakers completely, which may be a bit of a shock to some. But the reality is that Portland likely wouldn’t trade the All-Star to Los Angeles due to the Lakers not having enough to acquire the guard and the rivalry the teams have had in the past. Additionally, Lillard mentioned players such as Bam Adebayo and Mikal Bridges as guys he is close with and would like to play with.

Currently, he is under contract with the Blazers for two more seasons and while all this talk is fun to speculate on, it’s unlikely he is moved. Portland has the third overall pick in the upcoming draft, and they plan to still build around him as a core piece to their franchise.

Lillard is still a very effective player in the NBA and whoever he suits up for will be better for it. Last season, he averaged 32.2 points and 7.3 assists per game over 58 games. His season was cut short due to injuries and the Blazers being out of playoff contention. 

The Lakers would love to have a chance at getting Lillard as he would be a natural fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis due to his shooting ability. However, it unfortunately may be a pipedream that has led Laker fans on for years. 

Are you following us on Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube yet? Join the conversation as we discuss the latest Lakers news and rumors with fans like you!