The offseason has just gotten underway and there has been a lot of chatter again about Damian Lillard's future with the Trail Blazers.
It's been a common theme in recent years, but this time feels a little different.
While Lillard initially maintained that wants to win in Portland, there's no denying that the franchise is at a crossroads. On one hand, the Trail Blazers have an all-time great still in his prime who is focused on winning a championship. On the other, they've missed the playoffs in two straight seasons and have the assets to kickstart a promising rebuild, including a point guard in Scoot Henderson.
Have we seen the last of Lillard in a Trail Blazers uniform or will he be back for another season? Here's the latest on his situation.
MORE: Damian Lillard trade destinations: Heat, Nets, Raptors headline potential landing spots
Has Damian Lillard requested a trade from the Trail Blazers?
On Saturday, July 1, Turner Sports' Chris Haynes reported that Lillard has formally requested a trade after spending the first 11 seasons of his career with the Blazers.
Haynes added that the Heat and Nets are Lillard's preferred destinations, while The Athletic's Shams Charania has reported that Lillard and his representation informed Portland that Miami is his preferred destination.
The news comes at a time in which Lillard has been in the news a lot. With trade rumors looming, Lillard's comments on Showtime's "The Last Stand" raised plenty of eyebrows.
Near the end of the podcast, Brian Custer asked the seven-time All-Star which one of the Heat, Knicks or Nets — three teams that have been linked to him in potential trades — he'd feel the best about going to if the Trail Blazers traded him.
"Miami obviously," Lillard responded with a smile on his face. "Miami is the obvious one, and Bam [Adebayo] is my dog. Bam is my dog for real. I mean, I think Miami is the obvious one. Brooklyn is another obvious one because Mikal Bridges is my dog too. And both have capable rosters."
Lillard talked a lot about his future with the Trail Blazers earlier in the podcast. He said that he wants "an opportunity to win in Portland" and believes the franchise has the assets to "build a team that can compete." If they can't build that team, Lillard acknowledged that he and the front office would have to have a "separate conversation."
Lillard shared a similar message during an appearance on ESPN's "Stephen A's World" in mid-April.
Damian Lillard knows it is time for the Blazers to figure out how to win, or some tough conversations will have to be had on both sides#sascast pic.twitter.com/ljXZfwDGpF
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) April 13, 2023
The Trail Blazers' decision to select Lillard's heir apparent in point guard Scoot Henderson with the No. 3 overall pick was likely a sticking point for Lillard.
Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes, who said he speaks with the Trail Blazers star frequently, said on the "Dan Patrick Show" that he doesn't think Lillard believes using the No. 3 pick is going to do the team "any service in the now." It sounds like keeping the pick could be the last straw for Lillard.
"If I'm Dame Lillard, based off of what he said, if they keep that pick, whether it's Scoot [Henderson] or anybody else, if they keep that pick, I think a serious conversation will be had about potentially parting ways," said Haynes.
Damian Lillard house sale
Fueling speculation that Lillard's time with the Trail Blazers is nearing the end was news that he placed his house in Portland on the market.
One of his houses, anyway.
#Breaking Wow! TrailBlazers Star Damian Lillard has placed his $7M West Linn, Oregon Property on the market. pic.twitter.com/MPWFNp5k9k
— JeffRichardOR (@JeffRichardOR) June 2, 2023
According to Trail Blazers insider Sean Highkin, Lillard has been building a new house in the same area as the one currently for sale, adding that the house he is apparently looking to sell is his old house.
FWIW: The tweet going around about Damian Lillard selling his house leaves out the part where he's been building a new house in the same area and the house he's apparently selling is his old house.
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) June 2, 2023
Basically, it's probably best to not read too much into Lillard possibly putting his house up for sale.
Does Damian Lillard have a no-trade clause in his contract?
Lillard signed a four-year, $196 million extension with the Trail Blazers in 2019. He then signed a two-year, $122 million extension in the 2022 offseason.
Lillard's contract does not include a no-trade clause, but it does include a $63.2 million player option for the 2026-27 season. That means the soonest he could be a free agent is in the 2026 offseason, at which point he will be 35 years old.
Here's the breakdown of Lillard's contract, per Spotrac's estimates:
| Season | Damian Lillard's salary |
| 2022-23 | $42,492,492 |
| 2023-24 | $45,640,084 |
| 2024-25 | $48,787,676 |
| 2025-26 | $58,545,211 |
| 2026-27 | $63,228,828 (PO) |
| 2027-28 | UFA |
Trade destinations for Damian Lillard
Where would the Trail Blazers trade Lillard if they decide to go down that route? Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes believes the team would consult with Lillard to try and send him somewhere he wants to go in the Eastern Conference. Haynes doesn't believe the Trail Blazers would send him to a Western Conference team.
The Miami Heat are the first team that comes to mind because Lillard clearly likes the idea of going to South Beach and they tick the box of being in the Eastern Conference. The Heat would have a hard time putting a package together for a star of Lillard's caliber without including either Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo, but if they could pull it off, the three of them together would pack quite the punch.
The Brooklyn Nets are another team Lillard appears to have an interest in. They're further away from competing for a championship than the Heat, but Lillard is close to Mikal Bridges, who showcased star potential after he was traded to the Nets this season. Depending on what the Nets would have to give up to acquire Lillard, they might be able to surround him and Bridges with enough pieces for them to be competitive sooner rather than later.
Another Eastern Conference team to keep an eye on is the Atlanta Hawks. Not only do the Hawks have some interesting players, but the front office is said to have the green light to do "whatever it wants" with the roster this offseason, including exploring trades for two-time All-Star Trae Young. A trade centered around Lillard and Young could make sense for both sides.
Damian Lillard career stats
- 25.2 points per game
- 6.7 assists per game
- 4.2 rebounds per game
- 1.0 steals per game
- 0.3 blocks per game
- 2.8 turnovers per game
- 43.9 percent field goal shooting
- 37.2 percent 3-point shooting
- 89.5 percent free throw shooting
