The Portland Trail Blazers have been caught in a whirlwind of speculation, anticipation, and condemnation since star point guard Damian Lillard requested a trade on July 2nd, 2023. No event has caused this much stress, nor put Portland so squarely into the NBA limelight, since they had to choose between Kevin Durant and Greg Oden in the 2007 NBA Draft.
In the midst of turmoil, plenty of people have offered opinions on the principals involved. Yesterday we addressed some of the criticisms leveled at Lillard, trying to look at the situation through the eyes of an aging superstar caught in forces beyond his control.