By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
There hasn’t been much urgency from the Portland Trail Blazers to trade star point guard Damian Lillard, but that reportedly could change soon.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald confirmed that Portland hopes to have a deal in place for the right price by the start of training camp on Oct. 3, Bleacher Report writes.
Lillard hopes to be traded to the Miami Heat, but Portland has yet to receive an offer it deemed worthy of sending away its face of the franchise, which has opened the door for other teams to try to acquire the 33-year-old floor general.
On Wednesday, Jackson and Anthony Chiang reported that the Blazers‘ “recent focus has been discussions with other teams, not Miami.” However, it was also noted that “If Lillard is traded to a team other than Miami, he is expected to ask to be traded to the Heat.”
Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups addressed Lillard’s status and admitted the unresolved nature of trade negotiations could be a distraction.
“Obviously it’s unsettling, it’s difficult,” Billups told Steve Aschburner of NBA.com. “But for me, all I can do, I’m responsible for giving my best to who we have. I don’t know how it’s going to play out. There’s nothing I can do to control it. But I do know who we have on our team right now and who I’ve been working with this summer. Who I’m excited about. All I can really do is pour myself into our guys. And see what happens whenever that happens.”
Time is running out for the Blazers to secure a deal for the seven-time All-Star, as it could create an awkward situation if he’s still on the roster by training camp.