The Portland Trail Blazers saga with Damian Lillard continues, and it doesn’t seem that’s going to change any time soon.
Lillard hasn’t changed his mind about his desire to be traded, nor about the team he wants to play for next.
Lillard requested to be traded to the Miami Heat, yet the Blazers have reportedly been unimpressed by what Pat Riley has had to offer them thus far.
With that in mind, it seems like Jimmy Butler has decided to take matters into his own hands.
The Heat superstar openly recruited Lillard during his latest appearance on his tour in China, doing Lillard’s signature wave goodbye and then ‘Lillard time’ celebrations after knocking down a shot and walking out the door, as seen in a video shared by Brady Hawk:
Nah there’s no way LOL
Just wait for it
The trolling continues: pic.twitter.com/ppm1zU5hvf
— Brady Hawk (@BradyHawk305) July 19, 2023
One would have to be quite naive to think this is a coincidence.
Butler is sending a clear message, both to the Heat and the Blazers, and that message is that Damian Lillard will take his talents to South Beach, whether it’s sooner or later.
Recently, Blazers GM Joe Cronin stated that negotiations and trade talks could take months, and they are in no rush to get a deal done now.
Then again, given the many precedents of unpleased players forcing their way out of their teams and even handpicking their destinations, it’s hard to think Lillard will allow this to be dragged into the season.
Truth be told, it seems like it’s not a matter of whether Lillard will play for the Heat or not; the real question is when that will happen.
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