In an early-September meeting of Portland Trail Blazers leadership, team owner Jody Allen made it clear it was time to move on from Damian Lillard. Although the team was initially caught off-guard by Lillard’s trade request, Allen was ready for the Trail Blazers to go in a different direction.
“We really need to move on. We’ve got great young talent. We’re not like other rebuilding teams who don’t have a strong core of young players. It’s time to turn the page,” Allen said.
Portland traded Lillard in a deal that brought Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara and Jrue Holiday to Portland, as well as a first-round pick and two first-round pick swaps. The Blazers subsequently traded Holiday to the Boston Celtics for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III and another first-round pick.
