“I failed [Damian Lillard],” Joe Cronin had admitted in front of the world for the first time about what could perhaps be one of the biggest mishandling of an NBA superstar. Loyal to the Portland Trail Blazers for 11 seasons, Lilliard’s wish was simple: Build a roster around him to help the team’s chances in the run-up to the championship. After the team concluded their 33-49 2022-23 season, only made worse by their 56-point loss to the Golden State Warriors, the star guard had made it clear, “I’m just not interested in [adding a young player in the next Draft]…And if the route is to (draft youth), then that’s not my route.” So, what did the Blazers front office do?

While the bigwigs initially agreed to their star player’s thoughts, with GM Cronin even going as far as to say, “We don’t want to go through this anymore,” come 2023 NBA Draft night, things took a turn for the unexpected. To Lilliard’s dismay—who had already been namedropping the Miami Heat as his next destination—the team practically showed their veteran player the door. They drafted 19-year-old Sterling Henderson (No. 3), Iowa’s 22-year-old forward Kris Murray (No. 23), and 19-year-old Rayan Rupert (No. 43).

Less than two weeks later, a trade request reached headquarters. And, by the end of September, the 34-year-old was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. Yet he finds himself drawn back to the city he called home for over a decade. Amid battling a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in the left calf, Lillard made a cheerful announcement on X.

“My youth camp is coming back to Portland in July. Always one of the highlights of my summer,” wrote Lillard on X. The camp is to be live from July 22nd-25th, 9am-3pm everyday at the YMCA. For just $365, you can see yourself becoming the next world beater and Hall of Famer – just like Notre Dame. Timeless as he is. As per an official update on the YMCA of the Columbia-Williamette website, the point guard will reportedly provide “hands-on instruction each day”. Other provisions include:

• “Limited camp enrollment to ensure maximum attention to each camper.
• Campers receive an Adidas/Damian Lillard Basketball Camp t-shirt
• Opportunity to get a picture and autograph to take home.
• Prizes each day”

“Damian Lillard wants every child to enjoy the great game of basketball while learning the fundamentals. The camp will focus on learning the basics and plenty of game action. Stocked with the finest local-area coaches and a small player-to-coach ratio, the Damian Lillard Basketball Camp provides that personal attention to each camper,” the website further mentioned.

Having said that, Milwaukee’s up and down season came to a close after a third straight first round KO, and for the second straight KO from the hands of the Pacers. To stop this unsettling pattern, they’re reported to be one of the busiest outfits heading into the off-season. And of course- Damian Lillard’s name popped right in. It hasn’t been the greatest of seasons for him, despite what his 24.9/4.9/7.1 statline might suggest. Old age and an array of injuries has caused the Bucks to look to the outside for replacements. Will it be a return to the Blazers? His tweet confirmed the return to Portland, just not as a Blazer.

But he’s not the Bucks star topping the headlines. At the moment, it’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. It’s bound to be him until there’s some clarity. But the longer this drags on, the more chance there is for the rest of the teams to hold out, waiting for any lucidity.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s trade decision delay could send the other 29 teams into “trade frenzy”

“There is real potential that a Giannis trade frenzy could essentially freeze the NBA offseason if the process drags out. Teams won’t want to make moves until they have certainty on where he’s going,” wrote Trevor Lane on X. You have to remember- a player like Giannis wouldn’t come cheap. And not for only cash. If a team really wants to put a bid forward, there’ll have to be a considerable amount of players and picks too- something the Bucks are severly lacking in.

This only means one thing- this rumor is far from over. In fact, Shams Charania expects all teams to do their due dilligence to get the Greek in. “Well, I think every team in the NBA will certainly do their due diligence… Even they’re going to look into a guy like Giannis Antetokounmpo and see can we bring him in because he has the ability. Like even in Milwaukee- if he stays there, he has the ability to make them a playoff contender year in and year out… He wants to be in the best long term sustained place where he can compete for a second championship,” said Shams on The Pat McAfee Show.

Giannis has come third in a two-horse race for the MVP. And that to be confirmed despite Milwaukee’s first round exit speaks volumes of the pedigree he’d be bringing in. So every bottom-dweller pretty much knows their hands in this. But they wait to see who they can bring in to improve the cards they’re holding.

Could Damian Lillard‘s uncertainty and Portland basketball camp see him move back to the City of Roses? Unlikely. But the Luka Doncic trade made everything likely, so we’ll have to wait and see. But if not at the Bucks, where do you see Giannis’ future?