Report: Damian Lillard Desires Knicks If Forcing Trade From Blazers
Damian Lillard hasn't requested a trade, and recent momentum suggests he won't before tipoff of the 2021-22 season. But if reports about the Trail Blazers' readiness to run it back with the same roster despite his mandate for change come to fruition, Lillard's plan to play at least one more season in Portland could go up in flames—and Stephen A. Smith claims to know where he'd like to play next.
During a Sunday appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio, the ESPN personality insisted that the New York Knicks will be at the top of Lillard's preferred destinations should he ever force his way from the Blazers.
Why? Not due to the Knicks' storied history or even the prestige of Madison Square Garden, according to Smith, but the perceived likelihood that Lillard would be able to recruit other stars to join him in Manhattan.
"I happen to know for a fact that even though Damian Lillard isn't really keen on getting traded from Portland, if he were to get traded from Portland, New York Knicks would be his number one destination," Smith said. "I'm telling you what I know. I'm not guessing. I know this for a fact; ya'll figure out how.
"The New York Knicks would be his number one destination if he were to want to get traded from Portland, and I'm not saying he does. But if he were to get traded from Portland he would want to be a New York Knick because he believes in the New York market. Unlike in Portland, it would be considerably easier for him to pull off getting guys to want to come play with him."
Smith goes on to mention Jayson Tatum and Joel Embiid as potential recruiting targets of Lillard should he ever be dealt to the Knicks. Why he named those superstars is anyone's guess.
Tatum's five-year, max-level extension with the Boston Celtics begins next season, and Embiid would no doubt ensure the Philadelphia 76ers uncover every stone toward contention—not just the seemingly inevitable trade of Ben Simmons—before turning his back on the City of Brotherly Love. Both players appear destined to remain where they are for the foreseeable future.
It's also worth reminding that Lillard's frustration with the Blazers doesn't just stem from the fallout of their controversial coaching search. Ensconced with the stars of Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics, he's reportedly grown more hungry than ever to win a championship.
Why would Lillard, then, force his way to a Knicks team that wouldn't already possess a title-worthy co-star? Like New York has learned the hard way for what seems like forever, hordes of cap space and the expectation of adding a superstar hardly amount to a guarantee.
Smith, obviously, has strong connections across the league. On the other hand, his hyperbolic style and iffy track record always lend Smith's reporting a degree of skepticism.
Like all rumors about Lillard's future, file this one away until he confirms or denies it.