“At this point, I’m told the only two training camps Damian Lillard could report to are, in theory: Portland and Miami. If a team like Toronto were to make a trade for Lillard, I don’t believe Lillard would show up to training camp. »
A few days ago, Shams Charania repeated that Damian Lillard could boycott the training camps of any team that tried to get him, except those of Portland and Miami.
Damian Lillard not in a strong position
“Information” quickly denied by other insiders but which is clearly a message from the agent of the leader of the Blazers, Aaron Goodwin, who since the player’s transfer request has been activating all the levers at his disposal to force a Damian Lillard trade to Florida.
“I do what I have to do for my client” the agent confirmed to the Miami Herald in early July. “I called some teams, other teams called me. With most teams, the relationship is respectful. And then, the truth is, he wants to play for Miami. Period. »
You have to say than with his current contract, which runs until 2027 (with an option to become a “free agent” in 2026), Damian Lillard is not really in a strong position. He cannot therefore “veto” if the Blazers decide to send him elsewhere than to Miami, and he cannot threaten the other franchises with leaving at the next “free agency” since he is still under contract for the next three campaigns…
The only weapon is therefore bad will, and it is therefore the one that his agent uses by repeating in particular to Shams Charania that the leader might not show up for training camp if he is not sent to Miami.
A message to Masai Ujiri
A not very subtle strategy which does not please the NBA at all, which has decided to carry out an investigation, and a memo, to remind Damian Lillard of his contractual obligations.
There remains one last interesting point: why did Shams Charania specifically mention the Raptors? According to Matt Mooreit is precisely because Toronto is one of the teams that is inquiring with Damian Lillard’s camp, and that the leader’s agent used the insider to send a public message to Masai Ujiri.
Other Eastern franchises would begin to move on the file but Toronto would perhaps be the most interested, especially with the departure of Fred VanVleet during the last free agency.
Especially since Masai Ujiri is not afraid to bring back players who are not really interested in the idea of playing for the Raptors. We remember that Kawhi Leonard asked to join Los Angeles when he requested a transfer to Spurs. But he finally headed to Toronto, without much enthusiasm. A few months later, he still won the title there… then signed with the Clippers straight away.
| Damian Lillard | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2012-13 | POR | 82 | 39 | 42.9 | 36.8 | 84.4 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 6.5 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
| 2013-14 | POR | 82 | 36 | 42.4 | 39.4 | 87.1 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 20.7 |
| 2014-15 | POR | 82 | 36 | 43.4 | 34.3 | 86.4 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 21.0 |
| 2015-16 | POR | 75 | 36 | 41.9 | 37.5 | 89.2 | 0.6 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 25.1 |
| 2016-17 | POR | 75 | 36 | 44.4 | 37.0 | 89.5 | 0.6 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 27.0 |
| 2017-18 | POR | 73 | 37 | 43.9 | 36.1 | 91.6 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 26.9 |
| 2018-19 | POR | 80 | 36 | 44.4 | 36.9 | 91.2 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 6.9 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 25.8 |
| 2019-20 | POR | 66 | 38 | 46.3 | 40.1 | 88.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 8.0 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 30.0 |
| 2020-21 | POR | 67 | 36 | 45.1 | 39.1 | 92.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 28.8 |
| 2021-22 | POR | 29 | 36 | 40.2 | 32.4 | 87.8 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 24.0 |
| 2022-23 | POR | 58 | 36 | 46.3 | 37.1 | 91.4 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 7.3 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 32.2 |
| Total | 769 | 36 | 43.9 | 37.2 | 89.5 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 6.7 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 25.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
