The only way that trade rumors swirling around Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard die down is when he and team owner Paul Allen come out with a joint statement squashing any possible chance of the organization dealing the point guard.
Until that day comes, even with Lillard under contract through the 2020-21 season with no opt-out in sight, the outlook on Lillard’s future remains foggy.
Looking from the outside, the Blazers look to be playing damage control, a situation that no star in a top-heavy NBA wants to be in.
Even with a talented backcourt of Lillard and CJ McCollum, the Blazers have failed to win a playoff series over the past two years and have been bounced out of the first round of the postseason in three of the last four.
The lack of postseason success has prompted many NBA personalities and analysts to call for the breaking up of McCollum and Lillard.
McCollum saw his name crop up plenty of times over the summer in trade rumors, but it looks as though he isn’t going anywhere. In the meantime, Lillard had a pair of meetings with team owner Paul Allen which suggested his unhappiness in Portland.
Blazers general manager Neil Olshey has attempted to squash any trade rumors surrounding Lillard as well, stating back in July that it was “much ado about nothing.”
ESPN’s Steven A. Smith added fuel to the fire when he stated in mid-August that Lillard wants to play for either the New York Knicks or Los Angeles Lakers.
Lillard vehemently denied those reports, stating that “I love where I live, I love the organization. I love our coaching staff. I love where I am.”
Still, it has done little to deter general managers from calling up the Blazers to check in on a possible trade involving the 28-year-old. Most recently, the Phoenix Suns called Olshey at the end of August, but nothing gained traction.
What are the chances of Damian Lillard being traded?
Even though there are plenty of names around the league suggesting things are not kosher in Portland, Lillard continues to do and say the right things.
On Monday at Blazers media day, Lillard pledged his allegiance to the organization once again.
“If a situation ever were to come up where I felt like I wasn’t value… then that would be the time [to ask for a trade],” Lillard said (h/t David MacKay). “But I don’t feel that way.”
For those banking on a trade, the only way these rumors will legitimately heat up is if he marches into Allen’s office and demands to be moved.
At least for now, that’s not happening.
