Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard’s time with the Blazers appears to be gradually coming to an end, marking the conclusion of over a decade with the team. His frustration is mounting as the Blazers have yet to secure an NBA championship to match his dedication and talent, despite his seven NBA All-Star selections.
This offseason has seen Damian become the latest name embroiled in a trade saga as teams await the opening of training camp. However, Lillard recently took another bold step toward the exit door by posting and then deleting an Instagram message confirming his desire to leave the Blazers.
Damian Lillard deletes Heat trade post
Lillard’s decision to leave the Blazers as the new NBA season beckons can hurt the team’s combination due to his contributions to the team in the past seasons. Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has made his feelings clear about wanting a trade to the Miami Heat and posted an Instagram story about the team before deleting it.
Lillard reposted a story that featured an image of the NBA player along with the caption: “Future Heat legend @damianlillard soon.” The post was later deleted, emphasizing Lillard’s ongoing status as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers. Nonetheless, it served as a reminder to fans of his desire to potentially relocate to Florida
The 33-year-old has been with the Trail Blazers his entire career after being drafted sixth overall back in 2012 but requested a trade in July after they missed the playoffs in 2022-23. Lillard specifically wants to play for the Heat, but a formal deal is yet to be completed.
Lillard has said he loves the Trail Blazers franchise and wants to be loyal to the team, although he still wishes to move teams ahead of next season. But his deleted Instagram story is a sign that he is still loyal to the team who gave him the platform to show his talents.
Damian Lillard’s best performances for Blazers
Despite Damian Lillard’s exceptional shooting skills, which have led to many record-breaking moments throughout his career, he hasn’t been able to guide the Portland Trail Blazers to a deep playoff run during his time with the team. This is a key reason why he is frequently mentioned in trade rumors.
However, he has consistently delivered remarkable performances in both the regular season and the playoffs. Nonetheless, basketball is a team sport that relies on the contributions of all five players on the court. Here are the top five games that Lillard was exceptional:
1. The January 2020 Portland Trail Blazers vs Golden State Warriors game.
2. The August 11, 2020 Portland Trail Blazers vs Dallas Mavericks match.
3. November 2019, Portland Trail Blazers vs. Brooklyn Nets game.
4. The April 2017 game between Portland Trail Blazers vs Utah Jazz.
5. June 2021 saw Damian give another outstanding performance in a game between the Portland Trail Blazers vs Denver Nuggets.
These are among the several other good games he has had in the previous NBA seasons.