Inside The Nuggets

Former Nuggets Player Blasts Damian Lillard's Trade Request

Is Damian Lillard demanding a trade to the Miami Heat bad for the NBA?

Joey Linn

Former Nuggets Player Blasts Damian Lillard's Trade Request
Former Nuggets Player Blasts Damian Lillard's Trade Request /
In this story:

It has become very clear that Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard wants a trade to the Miami Heat and nobody else. During a recent podcast episode, former Denver Nuggets guard Austin Rivers blasted Lillard's trade request, calling it bad for the NBA.

"If you're a free agent then you can choose where you're gonna go. That's the business. But when you're not, and you sign a deal... that's part of the business. If you get traded somewhere, you gotta go play... This started with James [Harden] and Ben [Simmons] doing this sh-t. It's bad for the league. It's a scary dynamic when stars start acting like this. And I'm not a big fan of it."

Rivers made it clear that his feelings aren't against Damian Lillard himself, who he has a lot of respect for, but rather this dynamic where star players are able to force their way to a single destination, even if they are under a longterm contract.

It certainly makes sense where Rivers is coming from, because small market teams are especially impacted by this. If players are threatening to sit out if dealt anywhere other than their preferred destination, it not only takes all other teams out of the running, but it also limits what that player's current team can receive in a trade. While organizations of course are not forced to honor these demands, it's also unlikely a team would deal for a player who so openly does not want to be there.

Related Articles

Former NBA Star Destroys Narrative About Nikola Jokic's Playoff Run

Nuggets Broadcaster Reacts to Backlash Over 'Lakers Daddy' Comments

NBA Legend Makes Incredible Nikola Jokic Observation

Published
Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

Home/News