Damian Lillard was dealt to the Bucks in a blockbuster deal on Wednesday, but he reportedly made one final attempt to salvage things in Portland.
The All-NBA guard, who’d spent 11 years with the Blazers, requested a trade earlier in the summer with the Heat as the lone team on his wish list.
But according to Bleacher Report, Lillard told Blazers GM Joe Cronin in a September 5 meeting that he’d like to rescind his trade request and return to the team if a deal couldn’t be struck with Miami.
Cronin reportedly told Lillard that ‘there was no coming back,’ which ‘shocked’ the point guard and seemingly damaged relations between the pair.
The 33-year-old player later showed up to the Blazers’ practice facility on September 11 to workout, and trained for eight days.
Cronin reportedly did not speak to him once, and the team cut off communication with Lillard and his agent Aaron Goodwin for two weeks around the same time – ‘to prevent Goodwin from getting involved in potential deals.
Cronin reportedly told Lillard that ‘there was no coming back,’ which ‘shocked’ the point guard and seemingly damaged relations between the pair.
The 33-year-old player later showed up to the Blazers’ practice facility on September 11 to workout, and trained for eight days.
Cronin reportedly did not speak to him once, and the team cut off communication with Lillard and his agent Aaron Goodwin for two weeks around the same time – ‘to prevent Goodwin from getting involved in potential deals.
While the trade is yet to be finalized, multiple reports indicate that the Bucks are sending Jrue Holiday, a 2029 unprotected first-round pick and unprotected swap rights in 2028 and 2030 to the Blazers.
Phoenix is also reportedly sending Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara to Portland , with Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson going to the Suns.
However, Holiday is expected to be flipped to another team by the Blazers, who are in rebuilding mode after parting with Lillard and drafted point guard Scoot Henderson in June.
While Giannis Antetokounmpo will hope to win a second championship with the help of Lillard, losing his ‘f*****g brother’ Holiday was difficult as well.
‘I love his family. I love him. I appreciate him. I wish him nothing but the best,’ he told Bleacher Report.
This guy is my brother for life, and it’s always going to be like that. He’s going to thrive wherever he ends up.
