Following Monday’s meeting with Damian Lillard and his agent, Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin put out a brief statement indicating that the team remains committed to building around its star point guard. Appearing on ESPN’s Get Up on Tuesday morning (YouTube link), Brian Windhorst provided some additional information on how that meeting went.
“This was the meeting that a lot of the league was watching to see if Damian Lillard requested a trade, and he absolutely did not,” Windhorst said (hat tip to RealGM). “From what I understand, the tenor of the meeting was that he doesn’t want to put pressure on the Blazers, that he wants to see what they do in free agency, and he’s going to give them that time do that.
“This is an interesting strategy move. He said at the end of the season ‘Get me veterans.’ The draft came and went, no veterans. He’s still not pressing, from what I have been told. He’s still going to give the Blazers every opportunity to work through this free agency process this week, whether it’s through trades or signing players.”
As Windhorst points out, given that no trade request from Lillard seems imminent, teams like the Heat – who were reportedly preparing to make a trade offer for the Blazers star – might have to move forward with their other offseason moves rather than hoping that Lillard’s situation will change.
“This is going to potentially cause some teams that were going to make offers for him to have move on with business,” Windhorst said. “They were waiting to see whether Dame Lillard was going to be on the market before they started to make moves this week. Now, some teams are going to have to make a decision either go forward or wait around. Lillard is going to wait around.”
Here are a few more trade rumors from around the NBA:
- The Pelicans have made center Jonas Valanciunas available in trade talks as they seek out a big man who is more mobile and more of a rim protector, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, who says New Orleans inquired with the Cavaliers about Jarrett Allen‘s availability. Cleveland has reportedly rebuffed all inquiries for Allen.
- Clippers swingman Norman Powell is another veteran who is considered available on the trade market, Fischer reports, adding that Powell’s name popped up in rumors when L.A. was trying to acquire Chris Paul from Washington.
- Speaking of the Wizards, even after flipping Paul to Golden State, they’re still looking to move on from one or two more of their veteran point guards. Sources tell Fischer that Washington is seeking draft assets for Monte Morris and/or Delon Wright.
- The Rockets have been engaging in more trade talks involving Kenyon Martin Jr. since last week’s draft, Fischer writes. While it’s not clear exactly which teams Houston has talked to recently, Fischer says the Hawks, Suns, and Nets have been cited as possible suitors for Martin dating back to the trade deadline in February.
I do hope the Heat move on… Then Dame makes the trade demand…
A complicated off season is far more interesting…
We know Pat Riley is not waiting for Dame. He’s probably been looking at the next plan the very second the story broke from Portland after the meeting with Dame.
The unofficial word from Heat Culture…”Next…”
Daily Dame story that will result in absolutely nothing. Either fully commit to the blazers and shut up or ask for a trade and leave
I’m getting sick of these Dame stories too, but I’m not sure how much it is his fault versus ESPN and the other TMZs of sports making it a huge story.
It seems good/healthy that the Blazers and him can have open dialogue. He’s in a no win situation media wise cause the alternative would be “Dame hasn’t spoken with Blazer management, is he upset? Is a trade request imminent?”
You know Dame isn’t the one writing these articles, right?
I’m 95% sure dame will not be a blazers by the trade deadline. Right now everyone is excited about the draft and landing Henderson.
He’s getting traded to the Heat. Sports show on XM radio just said a source from Miami told them that Riley is working on the deal right now and will get it done by tonight. Obviously, the source thing is always laughable, but it seems like the trade is going to come a lot sooner than later
This makes sense … it’s all about leverage and POR taking their time doesn’t make sense if potential suitors move on.
With Pat Riley, it would be clear that the Blazers need to move Lillard now or Riley will just move on. Riley waits for no one. Just ask LeBron.
Norm Powell is a real negative trade asset using the formula that ask if norm was a free agent would he get close to the 3 years 59 million he’s owed ? And the answer is a resounding no chance in you kmow what !
So sure clippers would like to trade him but good luck finding any buyers
The Knicks are the only team with enough assets to trade for Dame that gets Dame into the window he wants to be in at the same time without the Knicks going to deep into the tax.
If Portland doesn’t try to rape the Knicks a fair deal can be done.
No thanks …..
A Lillard/Brunson backcourt isn’t going to win playoff series, full stop. There’s a reason why Dame has never had true success playing next to smaller/poorer defenders. He needs size next to him.
So unless Brunson would come back to the Blazers or the Knicks would have another deal lined up to move him for a better-fitting piece, I’m not seeing this making sense from a basketball perspective. Of course, that hasn’t stopped deals from happening before!
I’m all about DeR… he fits us perfect. He plays both ways. And we can keep our core to get him. Jalen n DeR is a great backcourt.
And just like that, this story remains the same as it has for 3 years. Dame wants to win, Portland says we’ll try, Dame agrees, Portland flounders in the regular season, repeat. Honestly he needs to just stay there until he retires
Allen on the pelicans would be interesting..
Personally I don’t think he moves the needle that much in terms of making them that much better. He’d be a boost defensively but Big V was a beast of the boards and would have the occasional big scoring night too. Now recency bias may play a part but my last memory of Allen was getting out worked and humiliated by Mitchell Robinson in the playoffs.
When it comes to making a deal it would have to be Allen for Big V plus bits, and knowing that the Cavs value Allen a lot they’d ask for Trey Murphy who I love. There’s no way I’d make that deal. After that I they could ask for Herb Jones but again I’d be really hesitant to give that up if I’m the pelicans.
Instead I’d look into Mitchell Robinson and Obi Toppin. Robinson and Allen’s games are very similar but I think his value is lower and Obi I think is just waiting for a move to have a breakout season. I’d offer them Big V, Jose Alvarado, Garrett Temple and a protected future first.
CJ Ingram Trey Zion Robinson
Daniel’s Hawkins Herb Obi Nance
Kira Marshall Liddell Hernagomez
This reads as Dame will eventually want out if the Blazers don’t do something to his liking and I doubt that they can at this point without trading some of their young assets which seems like they don’t want to do. The Blazer FO has to know that they’re gonna need to trade him sooner than later so why not just pretend that you don’t have to right now to try to get maximum value for him but tell teams to make their best offers and hope one is good enough that you will feel comfortable doing one soon without getting ripped by fans.
I mean none of this is surprising also I know Washington not a fan but I know they want to move Marcus Morris and Delon Wright but another guy to watch out for is Kyle Kuzma in a sign and trade I feel like for those three they can get at least one first-round pick if not more firsts
Dame is playing the rest of the league, and most of y’all, for fools.
He doesn’t want to go anywhere. He’s terrified. Scared to death. He doesnt want the pressure of actually be expected to win.
He’s too comfortable in POR, makes too much money, and his too highly thought of by the community.
Why risk all that just to go somewhere else where your expected to win it all (MIA), when you can coast to mediocrity?