While the writing may have been on the wall for a few months, last week was a seismic shift for the Portland Trail Blazers. While the team is supposed to be preparing for the 2023 NBA Summer League, the franchise was rocked by a Damian Lillard trade request right after they agreed to a monstrous deal with Jerami Grant.
Lillard’s departure had been rumored for months, turned up to a feverish pitch once the team selected Scoot Henderson in the 2023 NBA Draft instead of flipping the pick for a win-now veteran.
Still, the shock of Lillard demanding a trade, specifically to the Miami Heat, represents the end of a distinct era in Trail Blazers history.