Veteran Guard Calls Out Damian Lillard Over Trade Request

The NBA has changed significantly over the past several years.

Due to the social media age that we live in, players and fans have never been closer, and players can convey their thoughts on a broader stage.

This has led to players expressing frustration with their current roster and, in extreme cases, requesting trades.

Damian Lillard has recently requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers, a highly controversial move.

According to Ringer NBA via Legion Hoops, Austin Rivers has been highly against Lillard’s decision.

“If you were a free agent, then you could choose where you were gonna go,” Rivers said.

Austin Rivers on Dame’s trade request:

“If you were a free agent, then you could choose where you were gonna go… This started with James [Harden] and Ben [Simmons] and all these guys doing this sh*t. It’s bad for the league.”

(via @ringernba, h/t @clutchpoints) pic.twitter.com/xUlSwKIjum

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 24, 2023

Lillard signed a four-year extension with the Trail Blazers in 2021, tying him to the team through the 2024-2025 season.

As Rivers indicates, had Lillard not done that, he would have been a free agent to sign wherever he wanted.

Now, the Trailblazers are left to decide if they’ll entertain a trade for the 33-year-old veteran, a longtime cornerstone of their organization.

While Rivers might be against Lillard’s actions, this could work out favorably for the Trail Blazers.

If Lillard left the team in free agency, the Trail Blazers wouldn’t have received any kick-back in a trade.

Now that Lillard is interested in moving, however, they might be able to maximize this situation, getting better value in a deal.

With Lillard on the roster, the Trail Blazers finished the 2022-2023 campaign with a 33-49 record.

Just having Lillard alone hasn’t helped their cause, and if they can trade him, they could set themselves up for major success in the future.

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