In this era, players are making super teams and refusing to play until they are traded to their desired team. Two names stand out from the rest: Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Both superstars have stayed loyal to their franchise that drafted them, trying to win the ‘right way’. Giannis even won a ring with the Bucks in 2021 when they defeated the Suns in the NBA Finals. But the wait goes on for his compatriot, Lillard.

Lillard has stayed loyal to the Blazers for far too long. Despite his loyalty to the Blazers, the front office failed to build a winning side with him. After 11 years with the Blazers, Lillard requested a trade this off-season.

Lillard Trade Request

After a dismal season with the Blazers, in which they finished 13th in the 2022-23 regular season. It proved to be the last straw. Dame wanted to win a ring and Portland Trail Blazers front office proved incompetent in building a championship-winning side. So, Dame requested a trade in the summer of 2023. His preferred destination was the Miami Heat, a team that lost in the NBA Finals to the Denver Nuggets. Dame was also a perfect fit for the Heat, as they needed a superstar point guard, which Lillard is. But with the new NBA season almost upon us, Dame’s trade to the Heat is still in limbo.

Danny Marang of the Danny and Dusty podcast had a surprising take on the situation. He says, “I know Dame would like to play with Giannis. That’s somebody he used to talk about for literal years. But he doesn’t want to go to Milwaukee. It’s a small town. Very cold, away from everything”. He added further, “I don’t think that it is necessarily about a big market. But, I think it is about not being somewhere away from home that he is not comfortable with”. 

Time Running Out for Dame

Bucks fans would go into delirium if Dame were to come to Milwaukee. But the matter of the fact is that the Bucks don’t have the draft assets that would entice the Blazers into trading Dame. As much as we want to see Giannis and Dame with a ring together, it is just not feasible, even for a single term.

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Portland has also future-proofed their roster when they drafted Dame’s heir in Scoot Henderson on 2023 draft night. With time running out for both parties to come to an agreement, it is anyone’s guess where Dame might end up.

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