Damian Lillard ‘liked’ a tweet referencing LeBron James’ epic return to the Cleveland Cavaliers to deliver a championship as he prepares to leave the Portland Trail Blazers.
On Saturday, Lillard officially requested a trade from the Trail Blazers. The seven-time All-Star has been with the franchise for 11 years since they drafted him sixth overall in 2012, and he had harboured dreams of bring a first championship to Portland since 1977.
The 32-year-old has led Portland to the postseason on eight occasions throughout his career, advancing to the Western Conference Finals in 2019 before being dispatched by the Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Lillard has seven All-NBA nominations to his name but has not won a championship, which is ultimately what he is pursuing with his trade request.
The superstar guard is unlikely to be moved for anything less than a huge haul of players or picks, with the Miami Heat - who fell in the 2023 NBA Finals to the Denver Nuggets - the Brooklyn Nets, LA Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers and San Antonio Spurs in the mix for Lillard. After his request when public, Lillard’s Twitter activity sparked speculation.
He liked a tweet hinting at a plan reminiscent of James’ dramatic return and title win with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The post suggested Lillard could potentially join the Heat, win a few championships and then return to Portland to secure a ring.
Twitter user @DameAflame posted the tweet that Lillard liked, which read: “Need Dame to pull some LeBron type s***, goes to Miami win a couple rings then come back home and win it.. PORTLANDDDDD THIS IS FOR YOUUUU”
Ultimately, liked tweet suggests Lillard aspires to replicate James - who was selected first overall in the 2003 NBA Draft - in bringing a championship to his hometown or original franchise. James left the Cavaliers in unceremonious fashion to join the Heat where he won a pair of titles alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
James had been quoted saying he never wanted to abandon Cleveland but had to do what was right for his career. After moving to South Beach, the four-time MVP won back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.
However, James dramatically returned in 2014 and inspired the Cavs to a historic title in 2016, coming back from 3-1 down in the NBA Finals to defeat the Warriors. Lillard has made no secret of his desire to win a championship with the Trail Blazers and the tweet suggests perhaps there is still hope.
Lillard's commitment to the Blazers has been questioned each year since their first-round playoff exit in 2020. He even remained steadfast in his loyalty following the trade of his fellow guard CJ McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans in February 2022.
It's easy to see why Lillard is a sought-after commodity. He is a proven star in the playoffs, averaging 34.3 points per game in his most recent series while he has twice eliminated teams with dramatic buzzer-beater shots. However, he has not played alongside an All-Star since LaMarcus Aldridge in 2015 - and he is ready to compete for a title.
Lillard will command a hefty package given he enjoyed the most prolific campaign of his career last season. His 32.2 points per game on 64.5 percent true-shooting were both career highs, and he added 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 36.3 minutes a night as the Trail Blazers finished the 2022-23 season with a 33-49 record.
