Aside from Victor Wembanyama joining the San Antonio Spurs, the biggest conversation surrounding the machinations of the 2023 NBA Draft was arguably the future of Damian Lillard. At age 32, the Portland Trail Blazers superstar clearly has something left in the tank but has been in speculative discussions concerning a trade for weeks now.
Some, in fact, believe that the Trail Blazers are better off starting a full rebuild while simultaneously rewarding Lillard’s loyalty over the years by trading him to a bona fide championship contender.
Take this Portland fan, for example. He wants the Trail Blazers to trade Lillard so badly that he actually bought a custom-made team jersey with “Trade Lillard” written as the name on the back.
Blazers fan at the NBA Draft pic.twitter.com/JPqvLYM2OV
— Andrew Schlecht (@AndrewKSchlecht) June 22, 2023
Okay, sure. You might be wondering: What’s the point here?
Well, this same fan found a perfect place to settle once Thursday’s first round actually got up and rolling — smack dab in the middle of ESPN’s live broadcast as they broke down the Houston Rockets’ selection of Amen Thompson.
I see the "Trade Dame" jersey guy found a prime spot pic.twitter.com/qiDUgTn3Zn
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) June 23, 2023
Beautiful. Poetic. My words can do this no proper justice.
Folks, let this be a lesson. This is how you start a movement for your favorite teams and athletes: You take initiative, you take action, and you send a resounding message with over $140 worth of team merchandise.
Bravo, sir. Bravo.
This was how Twitter reacted to the Trail Blazer fan's "Trade Dame" jersey
Trade dame on the jersey I’m crying dude
— J⋆ (@repPrada) June 23, 2023
The trade dame jersey dude could've bought like 12 grimace birthday meals smdh pic.twitter.com/yvg6coDoVw
— kev (@youngwonton) June 23, 2023
Trade Dame on the back of this blazers fans jersey. 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/2yMUhYjCaM
— Joey Texas (@TheTXGuy) June 23, 2023
OMG at the dude standing up with the TRADE DAME jersey 😭😭😭
— Robby 😍 (@RobbyRav) June 23, 2023
I’m sure it was an accident to have the dude with the “trade dame” jersey showing on the set behind them talking.
— chris (@Blazer_Chris_) June 23, 2023
A Blazers fan has a Trade Dame jersey on TV 💀 pic.twitter.com/zPYoYCQsBk
— The Lead (@TheLeadSM) June 23, 2023
The guy with the Trade Dame jersey 😂😂
— Jesse Mottes (@Mottz13) June 23, 2023
I bought someone a ticket to the nba draft and bring a “trade dame” jersey so if y’all see it just know it’s me 😭
— Buhownz 🪼 (@Demar305) June 22, 2023
Bro got trade Dame Lillard jersey next to Stephen A Smith pic.twitter.com/snRfp2ZSWi
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) June 23, 2023