Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard. Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Damian Lillard gives puzzling objection to joining Warriors amid trade saga

By Vinny Somma | Last updated 9/19/23

On Monday, ESPN's Marc J. Spears revealed on "NBA Today " that a mystery team has entered the trade sweepstakes for Damian Lillard. Yet, it's safe to say, were that team the Golden State Warriors, Lillard would have zero interest in playing for them.

Joining the "It Is What It Is" podcast on Tuesday, Lillard gave the Warriors their flowers for their prolonged success but adamantly opposed the idea of playing for the franchise.

"I respect what they've been doing over the last eight, nine years or whatever, and I'm from there obviously. That's home. But I can't go be a part of that," the Oakland native said. "They won four championships. What I look like going to try to do that?"

Lillard later added, "It don't even make sense. I'd never do nothing like that. I'd lose every year before I go."

Golden State is one of the more well-recognized sports dynasties in recent memory, winning four NBA titles over the last nine seasons. Yet, is teaming up with an aging duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson much worse to one's legacy than pleading to join a Miami Heat squad that appeared in multiple NBA Finals series over the last four years?

Regardless, the seven-time All-Star remains headstrong in his desire to land in South Beach following a trade request from the Blazers in July. While Miami remains the favorite to acquire Lillard, Portland's extremely high demands will likely further prolong trade discussions with the Heat, leaving Lillard's future in limbo with the season five weeks away.

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Portland is seeking a haul similar to what the Brooklyn Nets received from the Phoenix Suns for Kevin Durant.

“They want the Heat to literally scrounge into every nook and cranny and produce everything they possibly can,” Windhorst said Monday on the "Hoop Collective" podcast.

The Blazers want the Heat to empty out all of their assets for Damian Lillard, per Brian Windhorst

“They want the Heat to literally scrounge into every nook and cranny and produce everything they possibly can. The Heat don't feel a need to do that,” pic.twitter.com/njzsz85FQo
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 18, 2023