NBA rumors: Damian Lillard trade request was solidified by one move

Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers are expected to work together on a trade. 

Well, the shoe finally dropped. There have been rumblings about Damian Lillard’s future with the Portland Trail Blazers all summer, but now we’ve finally reached the climax — the 32-year-old has requested a trade, according to Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.

The Blazers are expected to accommodate Lillard’s request.

The seven-time All-Star averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists on 64.5 TS% last season. It goes without saying that he will have no shortage of interested suitors.

Damian Lillard requests trade from Portland Trail Blazers

The likelihood of Lillard asking out raised tenfold when the Blazers decided to keep the No. 3 pick in June’s NBA Draft. The franchise used it on Scoot Henderson, a smaller point guard who many pegged as Lillard’s eventual replacement. Now Henderson will take over the reins on day one.

The Blazers re-signed Jerami Grant to a five-year, $160 million contract on the first day of free agency, which led many to believe Portland was still angling to contend with Lillard. That deal has already aged like sour milk, no matter how strongly you believe in Grant’s mix of versatile defense, slashing, and 3-point shooting. How Portland moves forward with Grant and the young core of Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe should be fascinating.

As for Lillard, the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers feel like the strongest suitors for his services, although Lillard has singled out the Brooklyn Nets as a potential destination in the past.

The Heat would presumably build a trade package around Tyler Herro and draft picks. The Sixers would need to swing a three-team or four-team trade that involves James Harden going to the Clippers, per his own trade request. The Nets have several wings and draft picks at their disposal.

It’s also worth monitoring the Knicks, who always are on the hunt for star power.