Blazers GM Joe Cronin Could Drag Out Damian Lillard Trade

Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to trade star guard Damian Lillard — to the Heat, or anywhere.

Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Cronin appears to be just fine with a “methodical, grind-it-out process” before honoring Lillard’s trade demands. As has been relayed repeatedly, Lillard reportedly only wants to play for the Heat.

On the other hand, Cronin is said to be playing hardball and making it evident he will trade Lillard to whichever team offers the best contract. If that’s Miami, then fine. If not, then too bad, Cronin seems to be saying.

Of course, the longer this goes, the more contentious it seems to get, and it’s only been a week since Lillard made his request. A deal, it seems, could take all summer.

“Cronin has set out to unearth a package of players and picks that reflect Lillard’s standing as a top-10 to top-15 player in the world,” Wojnarowski wrote.

While Lillard’s agent has been calling teams and advising them against a trade, others such as the Jazz and Celtics might still be interested. Lillard still has four years and $176 million left on his deal after signing an extension last summer. He will be 37-years old when the contract is up. 

At the time, it seemed as if he was committing to the Blazers for life. Now, he can’t wait to get out. But it has to be to Miami as far as Lillard is concerned. Cronin, however, isn’t nearly as determined to make that happen.

For ESPN+ on Damian Lillard, the Blazers and the pursuit of market value in the modern NBA superstar trade https://t.co/4H8zUeK2Tm

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2023