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Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard shoots down Lakers trade rumors?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Aug 12, 2021 4:05 PM ET

Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard is in the (very) early days of his supermax extension but is routinely mentioned as a potential trade candidate and has been linked with clubs such as the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, and New York Knicks, among others, in rumors and printed wish lists.

On Thursday, it appeared Lillard shut down any idea that he could join the Los Angeles Lakers before or during the 2021-22 NBA season:

Bet a Million. https://t.co/CloZY3Iq4c
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) August 12, 2021

The Lakers likely couldn't acquire Lillard anytime soon after they added Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, Malik Monk, Trevor Ariza, Dwight Howard, and Kent Bazemore this summer. Lillard, meanwhile, reportedly is not considering requesting a trade before the fall, but he recently raised eyes with a cryptic Instagram post:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Damian Lillard (@damianlillard)

If nothing else, the 31-year-old certainly attracts attention via social media.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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