Like Anthony Davis a few years ago or Kevin Durant last summer, will Damian Lillard push his leaders to transfer him. The All-Star leader has been putting pressure on his leaders for a few years now, while explaining that he is against the “superteams” and that a title outside the Blazers will not have the same flavor.
But Portland has been missing the playoffs for two years now, and he is putting a layer on this need to be better surrounded. Last year, his leaders had brought him Jerami Grant, whom he had rubbed shoulders with in selection, but that did not change anything… “I have made my wishes clear: I want the opportunity to win in Portland and now we have the opportunity, in terms of elements, to build a team that can be competitive. If we can’t do it, we’ll have to discuss it. You just have to let things happen and see if they succeed. »
Damian Lillard does not want to meet the same fate as Russell Westbrook
Clearly, Lillard recalls that its leaders have first draft rounds, including the 3rd choice, but also players to set up exchanges and bring him a very good player. Definitely an All-Star. But Lillard also evokes a trade and he knows that the grass is not necessarily greener elsewhere, and he takes the example of Russell Westbrook.
“They could trade me to a franchise considered a title contender. But how do you know if everyone will be healthy? How do you know if it will work? » he asks into the microphone laststand podcast. “When Russell Westbrook joined the Lakers, everyone was fired up. You see what I mean ? Then they kicked Russ off the bench like he wasn’t a Hall of Famer. Seriously, it’s Russell Westbrook! Like what, nothing is guaranteed.”
His interlocutor still gives him four possible destinations. All in the East: New York, Brooklyn, Boston and Miami. What would be his first choice if he had a say in a trade? “Miami, of course. Miami is the most obvious, Bam (Adebayo) is my friend. Miami is the most obvious… Brooklyn is also obvious. It’s obvious because Mikal Bridges is also my friend”.
