For the first time in his career, it really feels like Damian Lillard might be headed out of Portland.
Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers is undoubtedly sick of answering trade rumors, but the 32-year-old did so when responding to some prospective destinations during an interview with Showtime’s “The Last Stand.”
He was asked which team he would be most comfortable being hypothetically traded to out of the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, or Boston Celtics.
Lillard admitted that Miami would be the “obvious” landing spot for him in a hypothetical trade.
“Miami, obviously,” Lillard said. “Miami is the obviously one, and Bam is my dawg – for real.”
He also mentioned the Nets as another “obvious” landing spot.
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Lillard has said numerous times that he prefers to remain with the Trail Blazers, but only if the team is able to compete for a title. He noted the good fortune that the organization received by landing the No. 3 pick in this year’s lottery.
“I want to have an opportunity to win in Portland,” Lillard said. “… We got an opportunity, asset-wise, to build a team that can compete. If we can’t do that … then it’s a separate conversation we would have to have.”
Lillard made his strongest statement yet after the end of the regular season that he’s “not interested” in rebuilding and wants the front office to seek out veterans rather than add more young talent in the draft.
Lillard stated that he doesn’t want to end up in a situation like Russell Westbrook did with the Lakers as he said the team “had him coming off the bench like he’s not a Hall of Famer.”
Lillard is coming off a season where he averaged 32.2 points per game. However, the Trail Blazers finished 16 games under .500.
