Canzano: Damian Lillard requests trade... mailbag addresses looming deal, Pac-12, San Diego State
Your questions, my answers.
Damian Lillard wants out.
He’s had enough.
The Portland guard requested a trade, per ESPN. The franchise is expected to work to accommodate him. I can’t say I blame the guy and I’ll bet you don’t either.
Eleven seasons.
Seven All-Star appearances.
All of it, melted to an end on a sobering Saturday morning when the news broke.
Lillard to Utah?
Miami?
Someplace else?
Some other city’s uniform won’t ever really look right on Lillard, will it? Same went for Clyde Drexler, Bill Walton and Brandon Roy. But those guys had far less to bellyache about after their basketball careers than Lillard will.
He turns 33 in a couple of weeks. The Blazers wasted his NBA youth. He got paid well for it, sure, but it doesn’t change the fact that general managers Neil Olshey and Joe Cronin committed a cardinal sin together. Portland’s GMs failed to get the star franchise player enough help.
The coming weeks are going to be difficult for some Blazers fans. Lillard was patient and well liked. He gave the franchise plenty of time to get it right. And the franchise mission wasn’t helped by the fact that Trail Blazers, Inc. is rudderless and operating without an owner. Be sure, the trade of Lillard is sure to be a circus with trustee Jody Allen and vice chair Bert Kolde anywhere near it.
To Lillard, we say, thanks… and good luck.
To the Blazers, I have far more thoughts.