Damian Lillard quotes J Cole lyrics as Miami Heat trade saga seems stalled for the summer
Damian Lillard requested a trade out of Portland this offseason, and became the subject of many a trade rumor.
Lillard preached about loyalty during his 11 years in Portland, and that is largely what kept him from asking to be traded, however, the superstar has had a change of heart.
With trade talks stalling for the summer, Lillard quoted J Cole's song "See World" on X:
“Either you play the game or let the game play you and be that broke mf talking bout I stayed true”
Damian Lillard is in the midst of a four-year $176 million contract that pays him an average annual salary of $44,066,288. It is fair to say that by "broke mf," it was not money that Lillard was referencing. Instead, Lillard is likely talking about championships here.
Portland got as far as the 2019 Western Conference finals but had five first-round exits and lost in the semifinals twice. The Trail Blazers missed the playoffs altogether in the past two seasons.
Lillard believes his best chance at winning the NBA championship is with the Miami Heat. He and his agent, Aaron Goodwin, are strongly pushing for the Trail Blazers to send him to Miami.
NBA issues warning to Damian Lillard and his agent Aaron Goodwin
Damian Lillard and Aaron Goodwin have been pushing for a trade to the Miami Heat. Goodwin has reportedly made calls to other NBA teams warning them that if they trade for Lillard, he will not honor them with good conduct.
Here is what ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported:
"Goodwin is telling organizations outside of Miami that trading for Lillard is acquiring an unhappy player."
Damian Lillard's agent Aaron Goodwin has been calling prospective trade partners and "warning against" trading for Dame, per @wojespn
Goodwin has been "telling organizations outside of Miami that trading for Lillard is trading for an unhappy player" pic.twitter.com/HROXeFdDBP
The NBA, however, took notice of this and issued a warning to Lillard and Goodwin. This notice was sent to all 30 teams in the NBA. As Shams Charania of The Athletic reported:
"They (The NBA) have interviewed Damian Lillard and his agent, Aaron Goodwin about his stance, that he only wants to play in Miami.
"The league advised both Lillard and Goodwin that any future comments of this sort, as far as him only wanting to play in Miami, will be potentially subject him to discipline.
"As well as a warning that any future comments by players, their agents, that are similar to the ones as far as 'I only want to play for this specific team' in a trade request. If that's made, that could also be subject to potential discipline as well.
"The NBA told its teams that they spoke to Goodwin, they spoke to Lillard and that Goodwin essentially denied telling teams that he told them that Lillard would only play in Miami."
At this point, all the teams in the NBA know where Lillard's heart is, and it looks like Miami or bust for the superstar.