Sources: Damian Lillard requests trade to Blazers

Lillard stayed with the franchise that selected him with the No. 6 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, in which Portland failed to make the postseason after eight straight trips.

But after the Blazers chose to use Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 pick in last month’s draft, the franchise’s future direction became clear.

Lillard met with Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin on June 26 to discuss the team’s future.

If Lillard leaves the Blazers, it will be after 11 seasons in which he earned seven All-Star and All-NBA teams and led the franchise to the playoffs eight times, including losing in the Western Conference Finals in 2018-19. He ranks first in Blazers history all-time in both points and three-pointers, and second in assists.

Lillard, who turned 33 on July 15, averaged 32.2 points and 7.3 assists last season, but played in just 58 games and left in the final month of the season. Lillard’s season highlight came on February 26 when he exploded for 71 points against the Houston Rockets.

According to ESPN Stats and Information Research, his 32.2 points per game are the most by a player to switch teams the following season.