Earlier Thursday, reports surfaced describing Damian Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, warning teams interested in trading for him that he only wants to play for the Heat. ] Goodwin set the record straight on later Thursday afternoon to confirm those reports: Lillard only has eyes for Miami.
“I do what I should for my client. Some teams I did call. Other teams have called me. It’s a respectful relationship with most teams. Truthfully, he wants to play in Miami. Period,” Goodwin said, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Lillard, who has spent his entire 11-year career with the Trail Blazers, requested a trade from the organization on July 1. That decision came following two consecutive losing seasons from Portland, who have amassed a 60–104 record (.366) during that stretch. The Blazers have not won a playoff series since reaching the Western Conference finals in 2019.
Earlier on Thursday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said that Goodwin had been warning representatives from teams other than the Heat against trying to trade for his client.
“As [Blazers GM Joe] Cronin explores the broader landscape, Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, has been calling prospective trade partners and warning against trading for his client, team executives told ESPN. Goodwin is telling organizations outside of Miami that trading for Lillard is trading for an unhappy player. As interference goes, this is a time-honored agent maneuver to depress offers and clear a path to a predetermined destination,” Wojnarowski wrote.
Lillard, who turns 33 on July 15, averaged a career-high 32.2 points per game last season across 58 games, shooting 37.1% on three-pointers.
