NBA Trade Rumors: Teams ready to pounce on inevitable divorce between Damian Lillard, Blazers

NBA Trade Rumors: There’s a growing belief that a divorce between Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers is inevitable. 

For years now, teams around the league have been waiting for the possibility of Damian Lillard demanding a trade. Though, as one of the most loyal players in the league, it always seemed like a pipe dream. However, heading into the NBA Draft, there’s a growing sense that a divorce between Dame and the Portland Trail Blazers could be inevitable.

ESPN insider Brian Windhorst said this morning on “Get Up” that teams around the league are preparing trade offers to send to the Blazers as soon as tonight when Portland makes their selection with the No. 3 overall pick, signaling to Dame their decision to not trade the pick for a star.

The Blazers are in a tough situation but need to do what’s in the best interest of their franchise. And quite honestly, the best interest of their franchise is to probably keep the No. 3 pick and make the selection.

The writing is on the wall for Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers

Whether they’re willing to believe it or not, Portland’s roster is built for a rebuild (if that even makes sense). They have two good young players in Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe, the No. 3 pick, and could trade both Jerami Grant and Dame for great hauls this offseason.

That’s the path that they should probably take and the front office probably knows this; as does Dame.

It seems that both sides know a parting of ways is probably what’s universally best. No one wants to seem like the bad guy by initiating it. Soon enough, perhaps when the Blazers make their pick, it will become clear which way the Blazers want to move in.

And at that point, the floodgates could open into a postering war by suitors to get their shot at landing Lillard via trade.

The Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat have already been named as possible landing spots if Lillard does hit the trade block.

But if there’s one team that has to feel great about their chances of landing Dame if this scenario does indeed end up playing out, it’s the Nets. They have what seems to be unlimited future first-round picks to build an offer around and they will be close to the top of Dame’s preferred landing spots.

When this inevitable split between the Blazers and Lillard does happen, the Nets should be the favorites to land the perennial All-Star guard. And it seems as if it could happen as soon as tonight.