The Portland Trail Blazers have been the talk of the town in the NBA ever since the 2022-23 season ended.
After several years with the team, Damian Lillard’s days in Portland are believed to be numbered.
This offseason is crucial for the future of the franchise.
If they can’t assemble a competitive team, Lillard is expected to demand a trade.
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft appeared to be a good way to find help for Lillard, but the Blazers kept it and drafted Scoot Henderson.
This decision reportedly didn’t please Lillard’s camp, according to Sean Highkin.
“When it comes to what happened in the draft, from everything I’ve heard, Dame & his people were not thrilled that [Portland] used the pick. They had kind of been telegraphing that if [Portland] decided to use the pick, then a conversation is going to have to take place” @highkin pic.twitter.com/HQIb4bH99Z
— dru_star (@dru_star) June 25, 2023
The All-Star point guard has been loyal to the team for 12 years now, but he’s also expressed his desire to win a championship.
Lillard is one of the best players in his position in the entire NBA, but the lack of success may prompt him to leave his first and only team.
Leading up to the draft, the Blazers were reportedly willing to move the No. 3 overall pick.
Now, they have Scoot Henderson on the roster, creating a solid young trio with Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe.
While Lillard remains patient with his team, the rest of the league is waiting for him to ask out of Portland.
The Miami Heat remain a potential landing spot for Lillard, with Jimmy Butler seemingly trying to recruit him.
NEXT: Scoot Henderson Has Announced His Jersey Number
