Damian Lillard’s declaration to leave the Portland Trail Blazers sent alarm bells. A player who has stuck with the Franchise for a decade has had enough. With no Playoff appearances in the last two seasons, Lillard’s prime was sacrificed. This disappointment of not winning led the Guard to change his scenery. He had stuck around and waited for change, but the management couldn’t put together a sustainable lineup around him.

Therefore, he chose last season and 2020 Finalists Miami Heat. Apparently, he had more teams logged in the list.

Frustrated Damian Lillard created a roadblock

Damian Lillard has stayed patient with the Franchise for long. His patience became a barometer of loyalty in the league. However, as he has hit his mid-30s, winning big in the Playoffs remains an issue. He has only made one Western Conference Finals appearance in his career, in 2019. And in that series, the team stood no chance against the Warriors. After years of frustration, his approach was decisive and demanding. The star feels betrayed by them. In this context, Eric Brandt, the co-host of Trail Blazers’ dedicated YouTube show Blazers Uprise, made some vital comments. He claimed that he had info from “someone close to the situation”. 

According to Brandt, “Going back to the extension, Dame wanted assurances in his contract that he could have a no-trade clause. Even though, I don’t think he qualified for a no-clause trade. But they cut it straight to him, don’t worry, you don’t need a trade-clause, you don’t need. We are going to win around you or we’ll take care of you”.

Believing in the assurance, Brandt claimed that Damian Lillard gave a list of teams that he wanted to go to. When the sharpshooter revealed that he had chosen a team where he wanted to land, GM Joe Cronin shut his demand.

Why Damian Lillard wants only the Heat?

Brandt tells that Cronin said to Lillard, ”We are gonna do what is best for us. I don’t care what you get back”. The Blazers Uprise commentator then says that this made Lillard “pissed”. Lillard then declared, “Screw you, I’m only picking Heat then“.

Therefore Blazers enthusiast says that “this is all on Joe Cronin’s, you can say and believe whatever you want.” He stated that whoever he meets claims that “Cronin lied”. Brandt wished that Cronin could have been “nicer to Dame”. Therefore, he argues that Dame’s reason for leaving Trail Blazers is justified.

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The specific trade demand to the Miami Heat means that the Guard has now decided that he will control his fate, not his GM. These comments thus allude to the Trail Blazers betraying their Superstar. who kept them afloat for a decade or so. 

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