It’s been almost two months since Damian Lillard asked out of the Portland Trail Blazers. Since then, the team has been in muddy waters. It is more so because of his specific choice of destination – the Miami Heat. As per reports, he won’t even show up for work if he is not traded to the Heat. Therefore, the task is mountainous for the Blazers and the situation is in deadlock.

All the attention is on the Heat and the Trail Blazers. Now, the Guard has finally spoken directly about the situation after asking for a trade.

Damian Lillard is bound by league rules

Since Lillard and his agent Aaron Goodwin are bound by the league’s rule that doesn’t allow players and agents to talk about an impending trade scenario, they can’t say much about the scene. The league had also issued a memo on 28 July to avoid talking about the whole situation. Therefore, when ANDSCAPE interviewed him on August 18, the Guard had to be careful about what he said.

Answering a question about the trade, the scoring phenom revealed, “I love the city of Portland. Every initiative that I’ve started, I’ll continue, and I’ll finish regardless of anything. The love will be that because the way I’ve said I feel about Portland is how I feel about Portland. I say what I mean, and I mean what I say. It’s been fine. It’s been what it’s always been.”

After being in Portland for more than a decade, the Weber State scorer has built strong relationships with communities. Having been with Franchise for such a long time through thick and thin, he has earned much respect from the city.

This is why talking about the people of the city, he states that the people, “…just tell me they love me. That’s literally what they say, ‘Dame, we love you. We thank you for everything.’”

About the Franchise, the Guard simply said, “I’m not going to speak on the Blazers. It’s lot of love and respect, but I won’t speak on the Blazers.”

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Dame D.O.L.L.A. is sick of losing

Lillard’s comments are reflective of the restrictions placed by the league. His love for the city is well-known but his inputs about the Franchise were what many NBA enthusiasts would have liked. After more than 10 years for the Franchise, he just has one Conference Finals appearance to show for.

The team hasn’t even made the Play-in during the last two seasons and their defense remains one of the worst for years now. Choosing the Miami Heat makes sense because he’d finally want to play for a tough defensive team and the squad has an established All-Star in Jimmy Butler.

Dame will also soon be in his mid-30s and for someone who has become injury-prone, the prime window is closing fast. 

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As the Heat, the Trail Blazers and Lillard exercise patience, NBA enthusiasts will only become more restless.