Charles Barkley Takes a Shot at Damian Lilliard

Despite exercising his player option and extending his Portland Trail blazers contract by two years in a deal worth $216,201,799, Damian Lillard publicly requested a trade at the start of this offseason. Not only did Dame request a trade but he also requested to be traded specifically to the Miami Heat and nobody else.

Many fans and pundits alike have taken strong opinions on Lillards request and the latest take has come from Former MVP Charles Barkley who dubbed Lillards request "unfair". Whilst speaking on The Bill Simmons' Podcast Charles called out Lillard and condemned his actions with the following quote;


Barkley does clarify that he does not have a problem with Lillard asking out of Portland but more so that he asks too much of the franchise in trying to trade him to the best situation for him rather than the future of their team. He aligns his point with a similar situation he endured in his career in which he had asked to be traded from Philadelphia but specified no preferred destination and just asked out to wherever that may be.


NBA Superstars commonly request trades in the modern NBA with players like Harden, Beal and Davis all asking out so it is no surprise that after several disappointing seasons in Portland that 33 year old Lillard has asked to move away. Many fans have been speculating that he would request a trade ever since long time teammate CJ Mcollum was traded away 2 years ago.

For now Lillard remains a Trail blazer and with several years remaining on his contract it is uncertain that Lillard will definitely be traded this off season. On top of this the NBA threatening to fine him if he makes public comments about only going to his preferred destination which opens up the possibility of a trade involving one of 28 other teams.


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https://thesportsrush.com