The recent trade that sent All-Star guard Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Milwaukee Bucks marked the end of what was once a promising relationship in Portland. However, the divorce between Lillard and the Trail Blazers was far from amicable and may have even violated NBA rules, according to reports.
Damian Lillard-Blazers Divorce Raises Questions About NBA Rule Compliance
Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report provided a detailed timeline of the trade, shedding light on the events that led to Lillard’s departure. It all began when Lillard requested a trade on July 1, following the Trail Blazers’ selection of point guard Scoot Henderson with the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Lillard publicly expressed his desire to be traded to the Miami Heat, but discussions between Portland’s general manager, Joe Cronin, and Miami’s senior vice president of basketball operations and general manager, Andy Elisburg, were limited.
Cronin had made it clear from the start that he would consider the best deal available, even if it didn’t come from Miami. However, Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, stated that Lillard would be unhappy if he didn’t end up in South Beach. This led to a warning from the NBA on July 29, cautioning Lillard and his agent against interfering with Portland’s trade negotiations. As August came to a close without a deal in sight, Goodwin proposed a meeting with Cronin to mend the relationship in case Lillard remained with the Trail Blazers.
On September 5, Cronin met with Lillard at his Portland home. During the meeting, Lillard expressed his disappointment with how the situation was unfolding and his reluctance to be traded against his wishes. Lillard also revealed that he had been asked by the Blazers to sit out the final 10 games of the 2022-23 regular season, under the pretense of a calf injury, to improve the team’s draft position. This request was made with the intention of using a higher draft pick to facilitate a trade for a veteran player. If true, this could potentially be a major violation of NBA rules, prompting an investigation into the Blazers.
As the stalemate continued, Cronin made it clear that he was pursuing the best possible trade deal. Lillard, however, expressed his desire to rescind his trade request if he couldn’t join the Miami Heat. Unfortunately, Cronin responded by stating that there was no going back.
Subsequently, Lillard began working out at the Trail Blazers’ practice facility on September 11, but Cronin made no effort to engage in further discussions. The situation further deteriorated, leading to a meeting between Goodwin and Lillard on September 17, where they devised a contingency plan that included the possibility of joining the Milwaukee Bucks.
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The turbulent divorce between Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers has raised questions not only about the strained relationship but also about potential violations of NBA rules. The league may open an investigation into allegations that the Blazers fabricated Lillard’s calf injury. As the trade saga unfolded, Lillard’s hopes of joining the Miami Heat were dashed, leaving him with a new destination in Milwaukee.
The fallout from this bitter divorce will likely continue to unfold, as the NBA assesses the situation and determines whether any rules were broken. The once-promising relationship between Lillard and the Trail Blazers has come to an unfortunate end, leaving both parties to navigate the aftermath and move forward separately.