Talks between the Heat and Trail Blazers regarding a potential Damian Lillard trade should resume sometime before training camp, The Athletic’s Shams Charania said during “The Rally” TV show (video link).
Lillard remains intent on getting traded to Miami, if he’s dealt. Charania expressed doubt that Lillard would even report to camp if he’s traded to a team other than the Heat.
“I’m told that that the only training camps Damian Lillard would report to are Portland and Miami,” Charania said.
Of course, that could be just posturing in the hopes of going to his desired destination. Media day for training camps is scheduled on Oct. 2 with camps slated to begin in Oct. 3.
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- After winning a championship, Nuggets coach Michael Malone is content to run it back — at least in terms of his staff. There are no anticipated changes to the coaching staff, TheDNVR.com’s Harrison Wind reports. That group includes David Adelman, former Minnesota head coach Ryan Saunders, Popeye Jones, Charles Klask, Ognjen Stojakovic, Boniface N’Dong and Connor Griffin.
- A New York Times’ story from Tania Ganguli discusses the friendship between Nuggets guard Jamal Murray and Alexander Volkanovski, the U.F.C.’s featherweight champion. “I’m a Nuggets guy now purely because of our connection,” Volkanovski said.
- In case you missed it, the Trail Blazers are reportedly adding center Duop Reath to their roster. Get the details here.
Dame should get fined again…
Can’t be letting the media say that…
It’s alright tho, he probably paid Shams more to put this report out than what the NBA will fine him…
The NBA needs to fix it’s disciplinary actions…
Lol I agree.
Funny thing with Dame is if he sits or doesn’t report, he doesn’t get paid. And that dude makes a lot of money. So sitting for even half a season will cost him like 25m.
For all those people who want to reply with a “who cares, he’s already established generational wealth” or whatever else, leaving 25m on the table is dumb any way you slice it.
If he wants to win and that’s his sole objective, he’ll go where he’s traded and play. I want to see Portland call his bluff.
This Miami or nothing stance is a really bad mark on an otherwise splendid career and personality.
He’ll get paid
Not if he sits and refuses to play.
He will still get paid
If he’s still going to push the I-won’t-honor-my-contract angle, then an example should be made of Lillard in the form of a lengthy suspension. Fines are pointless.
Lillard getting suspended for that would be the worst thing the NBA could do. He’s been one of the most loyal stars in the league to this point, and that’s who you’re gonna start with? Not Kyrie, not harden, not KD, not Simmons but Lillard?
Yes, absolutely start with Lillard. It’s too late for those other players mentioned, but the lack of discipline in their situations is what has enabled a respected player to make such an outrageous demand. If Lillard ends up in Miami, stars demanding to be traded to a specific team will become the norm, and we’ll see this type of situation a half dozen times a year.
Chamberlain forced a trade to the Lakers over 45 years ago, Kareem did it 35 years ago, Kobe did it before he ever played a single game and you want set an example with Dame?
Dame is hardly in the same breath as the three you mentioned taco kitty.
Portland was loyal when they doled out his super max blow man. Time for Dame to honor his contract and report while Portland finds a deal palatable to their liking. I don’t recall a no trade in Lillards contract.
Haha, what else was Portland going to do? No one wants to play for that circus of an organization. That wasn’t loyalty it was desperation
Lillard doesn’t strike me as a guy who would sit out. Maybe I’m wrong, but I doubt he’s going to be going the extra mile like he has in the past. Longer injury recoveries. More load management days. Just bare minimum, show up, punch in and punch out. Not very appealing to potential trade suitors
Lillard has no trade protection & has 4 years left on his contract. He really doesn’t have a say where he gets traded. If he gets traded to someone other than the Heat & doesn’t report, he doesn’t get paid. Don’t see him losing all that money. If I were the Blazers I would bring him in and tell him that he isn’t going to Miami because the Heat’s offer stinks. Either give them more teams that he’d play for or they’re not going to trade him. See what he does then
WRONG on the no trade eric thus making your entire argument mute.
Um, that’s his entire argument. In the first sentence he mentioned that Lillard had no trade protection. Then goes on to say how Dame doesn’t have a say where he gets traded. That would make your comment not only moot but dumb as hell.
Yo tuco Lillard doesn’t have a no trade protection thus making his entire comment mute. What are you dyslexic?
It’s such a shame, Dame really had built this solid reputation of not chasing the ring and staying loyal. Granted he’s now old and had enough and wants out but the way he’s gone about it just seems so out of character and fully ruins his legacy.
Miami’s offer should be Lowry, Robinson, Jovic and 3 firsts.
No one else is bidding against them, Dame refuses to go anywhere else so it’s just a waiting game. Miami is in no rush even without Dame they will make the playoffs. Dames more than likely going to try even harder to force through the move which only lowers his value
I hope Portland just sit him behind Scoot. Who cares if he’s unhappy, if he doesn’t show up you don’t have to pay him. It’s about time the NBA should give these players real consequences cause a slap on the wrist is nothing when your making 40+ mil a season
I don’t agree that his legacy is ruined, but I love that dude and even I have been turned off by his and his agents efforts to strong arm a move to Miami.
Portland made this guy very rich and shouldn’t be expected to roll over and take a dookie return from Miami just because that’s where he wants to go.
Never should have signed the extremely lucrative extension he signed, especially without the NTC.
Portland hopefully stands firm and waits til trade deadline at which point more suitors will undoubtedly come to the table.
Lol throw out the Lowry and start the discussion with Bam.
Miami says no, No one else calls Portland and your left with an unhappy star player getting older losing value and collecting cheques …..
If Shams was “told” that by Lillard’s camp (not sure who else it could be), then Lillard has to be fined again. It’s right out of the new CBA, and now he’s a second time offender within a few months.
If Lillard had any character, then he’d end the nonsense (and the fines) with a simple statement that he has made his preferences known to the PTB, but will honor his contract regardless. It will actually help facilitate a trade to his preferred destination.