NBA warns Damian Lillard & his agent of disciplinary actions over team-specific trade request, per NBA insider
With Damian Lillard's future hanging in the balance, the NBA recently sent out a warning to the NBA star and his agent for trying to push through a trade to the Miami Heat.
Both Lillard and Aaron Goodwin are focusing on a team-specific trade, which has been the big news around the league for quite some time.
At the start of the offseason, Lillard made it known that he wants to move on from the Portland Trail Blazers, after 11 long seasons. The Miami Heat have emerged as the preferred destination for the seven-time All-Star, however, this has been difficult to fulfill as the team lacks the assets to satisfy the Blazers.
On Friday, the league sent out a memo to all 30 teams regarding trade requests of this sort. Shams Charania of The Athletic said the NBA also interviewed Lillard and warned him that such requests in the future would land him in trouble.
"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."
He continued:
"As well as a warning to the MBPA 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."
Charania added:
"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."
NBA sent a memo Friday to all 30 teams about Damian Lillard’s trade request and the stance that he only wants to play in Miami. Reporting details on @TheRally: pic.twitter.com/xkgMfcTeqI
You might also be interested in reading this: Damian Lillard trade rumors: Pelicans emerge as strong contenders amid Heat-Trail Blazers saga
Damian Lillard shares a statement regarding the warning sent out by the league
Many were surprised by the news about the league sending out a warning to Damian Lillard and his agent. The Blazers guard responded by assuring the other teams that he'll still give his all to any team that trades for him.
He said:
"Goodwin and Lillard affirmed to us that Lillard would fully perform the services called for under his player contract in any trade scenario. The relevant teams provided descriptions of their communications with Goodwin that were mostly, though not entirely, consistent with Goodwin’s statements to us."
Damian Lillard assured the NBA that he will give any team in the league his all-out effort
“Goodwin and Lillard affirmed to us that Lillard would fully perform the services called for under his player contract in any trade scenario. The relevant teams provided descriptions of… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… pic.twitter.com/kgAoj5lGMF
Right now, many are wondering if Lillard's request to be traded to Miami will be honored by Portland. The offseason is long and there's still a chance for him to be moved to the Heat.
Also read: “Dame was so loyal” - Ramona Shelburne suggests Damian Lillard might expand his trade destinations list