NBA Rumors: Damian Lillard could get in trouble for “only Miami” stance

The NBA warned Damian Lillard and his agent about his public stance of only wanting to join the Miami Heat, threatening discipline if that talk continues.

Damian Lillard wants a trade out of Portland and everyone and their mother knows his desired destination is the Miami Heat.

We know that because Lillard and his team have been saying it openly. And according to reports, Lillard’s agent even warned teams against trading for the star guard.

The NBA clearly hasn’t appreciated all that talk.

NBA Rumors: Damian Lillard could get in trouble for “only Miami” stance

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the league sent a memo addressing statements made by Lillard’s agent about the player’s exclusive interest in the Heat as well as the reports about teams being warned that Lillard wouldn’t play for them if traded anywhere but Miami.

In essence, the league interviewed Lillard, his agent Aaron Goodwin and teams who have spoken to him about Lillard to get to the bottom of what was and wasn’t said. Goodwin denied that he ever told teams that Lillard would refuse to play and the NBA’s interviews with teams found that his description of what was said “were mostly, though not entirely consistent” Goodwin’s account.

In any case, the NBA has made it clear that Lillard and any future players who make comments privately or publicly indicating they won’t play for a team that trades for them “will be subject to discipline.”

It’s not hard to see why the NBA is making that clear. The last thing the league wants is for players to force trades to their preferred destination by scaring other interested teams away. Specific teams would have a decided advantage while leaving teams in the Trail Blazers‘ position severely hampered when trying to get a fair return for a player requesting a trade.