Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard has requested a trade after spending the first 11 seasons of his career with the team.
“We have been clear that we want Dame here but he notified us today he wants out and he’d prefer to play someplace else,” Portland general manager Joe Cronin said in a statement Saturday. “What has not changed for us is that we’re committed to winning, and we are going to do what’s best for the team in pursuit of that goal.”
The Miami Heat, LA Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers are three teams that will have interest in exploring trades for Lillard, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne.
Lillard’s preference is to be traded to the Heat, a source told Andscape’s Marc J. Spears. Lillard also has deep respect for the San Antonio Spurs organization, sources told Shelburne.
The Blazers are expected to value deals that would bring them back young players and draft assets.
Lillard had contemplated requesting a trade when he met with the Blazers and Cronin on Monday, but wanted to give them every opportunity to improve the roster as free agency opened so he remained as quiet and supportive as he could this week, sources said. On Friday night he made the decision to ask for a trade.
Lillard has stuck with the franchise that chose him with the No. 6 pick in the 2012 NBA draft through two seasons in which Portland did not make the postseason following eight consecutive trips. But after the Blazers opted to use their No. 3 pick in last month’s draft on guard Scoot Henderson, the future direction of the franchise was clear.
