The first half of Damian Lillard’s most recent response to the idea of him leaving Portland likely inspired hope among the TrailBlazer faithful.
But once he completed that short sentence after a brief pause, fans of Portland and any fanbase hoping for a trade were sent right back into skepticism.
Speaking on an Instagram live broadcast on Wednesday, the superstar point guard read a question aloud that many around the NBA are wondering: will Lillard bring truth to the persistent rumors and request a trade from Portland?
“I’m not leaving PDX,” Lillard said, before continuing after a brief silence. “Not right now at least.”
Lillard has been at the center of trade speculation for months, especially after another early playoff exit for the TrailBlazers and the controversial hiring of Chauncey Billups as the team’s new head coach. But still, Lillard hasn’t made it clear what his future looks like in Portland, telling The Athletic in an article published Wednesday that he knows “what the truth is” when it comes to his future.
“It definitely has been different,” Lillard said. “I feel like I’ve handled it like I’ve handled everything. I just let it happen. I let people talk and I just stay true to who I am and I stand on that. If I say something, I stand on what I said. It is what it is, at this point.”
Lillard is seen as a highly-coveted trade chip if he is dealt, as he averaged 28.8 points per game last year and earned his sixth All-Star selection in nine seasons. The Knicks were seen as a potential landing spot for Lillard in a trade, but New York has since added Kemba Walker and brought back Derrick Rose to solidify its backcourt, but they would obviously explore options if a bonafide star like Lillard were to become available.
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