The Portland Trail Blazers are still planning to keep superstar Damian Lillard.
After meeting with Lillard and his agent Aaron Goodwin on Monday, Blazers general manager Joe Cronin said the group had “a great dialogue,” adding the team remains “committed to building a winner around Dame,” according to The Oregonian’s Bill Oram.
Cronin’s statement comes amid trade rumblings surrounding Lillard. Following the team’s second straight season missing the playoffs, the superstar said in April that he doesn’t “have much of an appetite for building with guys two and three years away and not really go after it.” However, Portland used its No. 3 pick on Scoot Henderson and has yet to acquire any veteran assets.
In addition, Jerami Grant will enter unrestricted free agency this summer. Grant was last season’s third-leading scorer and the oldest starter outside of Lillard.
Lillard has spent his entire 11-year career in Portland after being selected with the No. 6 pick in 2012. He’s made seven All-Star appearances and seven All-NBA teams.
The 32-year-old averaged a career-high 32.2 points per game last season for the 33-49 Blazers. He recorded a personal-best 71 points against the Houston Rockets in February.
Got a story or tip for us? Email Sports Gossip editors at tips@sportsgossip.com
Want More From Sports Gossip?
For all the latest breaking Sports Gossip, be sure to follow SportsGossip.com on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
