Woj to Pat McAfee: Trail Blazers Have Shut Down Trade Talks On Damian Lillard

PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 10: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers in action against the Philadelphia 76ers during a game at Wells Fargo Center on March 10, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Trail Blazers 120-119. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

By 750 THE GAME STAFF

Breath easy, Dame fans.

DRAFT NIGHT FULL OF RISK — AND FUN — FOR TRAIL BLAZERS

The Portland Trail Blazers will not be trading Damian Lillard before or during Thursday’s NBA Draft, according to ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski.

Speaking to the Pat McAfee Show, Woj said general manager Joe Cronin has ended any conversation around potentially trading away the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.

Pat Riley was leading the charge to lure Lillard to Miami, and still figures to continue his efforts after the draft.

“Miami, they’re going to be very anxious to watch what happens in Portland to see if there’s any point this summer where Damian Lillard becomes available,” Woj said on Wednesday. “He’s not available now. He says he wants to be in Portland. And the Blazers have shut down anybody who’s called about the possibility of trying to trade for him. But certainly, Pat Riley is always going to be really aggressive in trying to improve his team. They want to make that last step. I’m sure they’re going to continue to be real active this summer.”

As for a report earlier this week linking Portland in potential trade talks to acquire Dame’s good friend Bam Adebayo from the Heat, Woj says that does not make much sense in his view, given Miami’s continued infatuation with Lillard.

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“I’d be a little dubious about the idea of Miami wanting to engage with Portland about Bam Adebayo,” Woj said. “Listen, they want to potentially dislodge Damian Lillard from Portland and sending him an All-Star level center from Miami means, not only are you losing Bam, you’re probably taking yourself out of position to eventually be the team who could trade for Damian Lillard. So I don’t really imagine that as a scenario that really makes much of any sense for Miami.”

Portland holds the third overall pick in Thursday’s draft, and while Lillard has gone on the record saying he does not want to wait for another teenage prospect to develop before contending again in the West, it looks like the Trail Blazers will not be trading Lillard to start a fresh rebuild.

At least not yet.

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Watch the appearance from Woj on McAfee talking Trail blazers-Heat below.