“Loyal to the soil and win a championship for Portland,” was Damian Lillard’s aspirations to start his NBA career. If being loyal were a person: Dame followed the footsteps of NBA Hall of Famers David Robinson, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant and the great Michael Jordan. Winning a title for the team who drafts you means a lot; but for Dame, it wasn’t happening. Regardless of how you dice it, Portland couldn’t surround Dame with a championship caliber team.
Known for his signature time watch celebration, Dame embraced that moniker to the fullest. But here’s where the watch stopped ticking: no meaningful playoff basketball games which were two and few. After all, Portland is out in the Pacific Northwest and kind of low-key quiet. A small market team who rarely saw primetime games unless it was against the top tier teams in either conference. Re-signing extensions, while keeping your word meant something to Dame.
As time passed, missing the postseason, and sitting home watching his peers play into late May and early June weighed on him. In his prime and no big name free agents were coming to join him. Portland is a team who builds through the draft and swing a trade for some role players. Other than that, Dame grew frustrated with everyone wondering when he’d be traded. A player of his caliber and being wasted with rebuilds; along with injuries which kept him out.
After the 2023 NBA Finals concluded, it was “time” to make a move. We heard his preferred destination was Miami and join forces with Jimmy Butler. There was some traction and talks; but the ONLY problem was Miami’s trade package. Dame’s agent was amid chaos in this whole change of “time.” When the NBA sent his representation a direct email, there was no more talks about Miami. This was either going to distract the Trail-Blazers current roster. A young core of guys who can develop and become all-stars soon. Dame’s cryptic messages and interviews started to make him contradict what he was saying. He was 50/50 far as
commitment to Portland.
In a shockwave which sent NBA social media into a frenzy, Milwaukee made the trade for Dame. Nobody in their sane mind would’ve had the Bucks making a blockbuster trade. After Milwaukee’s playoffs concluded in the hands of Miami, Giannis Antetokounmpo made it clear the team didn’t meet expectations to sacrificing much as he did. Milwaukee took notice and started assembling a package. Parting ways with Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen and couple picks for Dame were ideal for Portland.
Dame wasted no time getting off the plane to a warm welcome from Bucks fans. Walking into a new surrounding and seeing his new threads ready to go. The smile, vibrant Dame we’re used to seeing looked fresher. Hitting the practice facilities and getting some shots up. If truth be told, Milwaukee’s window to make another Finals run is very much open in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks are favorites to come out the East; there’s no doubt in my mind it could happen. If everything goes as planned, they’ll the Eastern Conference Champions and make
their second Finals appearance in four seasons.
As Portland transitions into a new era, Damian Lillard will the best player in franchise history. He accomplished a lot in twelve seasons with the Trail Blazers; that shouldn’t be taken for granted. His community involvement and investing his resources to the city, Dame will forever be loved in Portland. It’s not easy leaving the team who drafted you; but this is a business and players only have a short window to reach the Finals. It took Dame a while to finally get the picture and move on. Milwaukee Bucks fans are expecting this team to play beyond April and
May.
If the “Dame Time” watch is ticking, Giannis’ health can uphold and not add extended minutes on his body. New head coach in Adrian Griffin starting his first season with two of the top ten players in the league, you can expect a lot of game winning shots. For Portland, Dame gave you all he had and then some. Through good and bad times, Trail Blazers fans should give him a warm welcome back when Milwaukee plays there later in the 2024 NBA season. As the late The Notorious B.I.G. once said: “If you don’t know, now you know.”
Stai tuned..
