When Kevin Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets during the 2022 offseason, they were unable to find an acceptable trade and some believe they never seriously entertained trading him at that time because they wanted another chance to keep him.
Durant stayed with the Nets and appeared to be on course to remaining with the franchise long-term until Kyrie Irving requested a trade after his own extension talks broke down.
That scenario does not appear to be repeating itself with Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers.
“I think both sides realize that this is over,” said Adrian Wojnarowski. “This is not a situation, necessarily, where the Blazers are trying to talk Damian Lillard back in.”
The Blazers are moving slowly on a Lillard trade with the Miami Heat likely needing another team to facilitate by taking on Tyler Herro.
