Damian Lillard has received some criticism for demanding to be traded specifically to the Heat. Reportedly, his agent is calling other potential suitors and telling them not to trade for the superstar because Dame will not be happy there.
On one hand this puts the Trail Blazers in a difficult situation because they are under pressure to work out a deal with Miami. One the other hand, sports analyst Stephen A. Smith says that Lillard has earned the right to control where he wants to be traded.
“Damian Lillard has earned the right to want out,” Smith said on First Take. “More importantly, a player of his caliber has earned the right to go where he wants to go. And if people are going to open their mouth because they’re going to sit up there and say ‘Well hey, you’re going to give the impression that you’re not going to be happy.’ Well listen, they’re probably are not lying but so what? Why should he want to go some place where he’s not going to be happy? … Why the hell should he go some place he don’t want to go?”
Smith also added that the Trail Blazers have never treated Lillard unfairly and that there is no shade throwing on the franchise.
