02 July 2023 , 22:21
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Damian Lillard is bemused at the idea of Portland Trail Blazers fans having any negative words to say about him despite his trade request.
The superstar point guard has been loyal to the team throughout his 11 years in the league, having the opportunity to leave earlier in his career but staying in a bid to win a championship in Portland.
But being frustrated with the team's direction, after drafting a point guard in Scoot Henderson and choosing not to trade the pick for a star player, Lillard does not see the team contending any time soon and has made it clear that he wants to win an NBA championship.
After it had emerged that Lillard told the team he wanted to be traded this off-season, the 32-year-old even took to social media to repost fans who had been thanking him for what he'd achieved as a Trial Blazer.
And Lillard also responded to one tweet, after a local journalist stated he'd been some fans left angry at the guard for wanting to be moved.
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A radio host in Oregon, ChadInPortland, tweeted: "Very surprised to see the number of fans turning on Lillard today. I can't blame him for wanting a change. The previous regime failed to build a legit team around him, and the current chose to go young and rebuild. I would guess this is the desired result by Cronin and his staff."
Seeing the tweet, Lillard responded: "It’s in my blood to take the high road. I’d love to hear what fans are turning on… have I mislead them? Or anyone? Fill me in."
Lillard has been with the Trial Blazers for 11 years (2023 James Gilbert)Lillard had previously been linked with trades throughout his career, but went on record on wanting to win a championship with the team who drafted him. The Miami Heat are seen as strong favourites to trade for him, along with the LA Clippers and Brooklyn Nets rumoured to be interested.
However, Lillard does not have a no-trade clause - meaning he can be moved to the highest bidder - with the Trial Blazers insinuating that they will not work with him to get the move he desires.
Lillard liked a tweet calling for him to follow in the footsteps of LeBron James, who left his boyhood team in the Cleveland Cavaliers, to win two rings in Miami before returning home and ending the Cavs' championship drought in 2016.