NBA Rumors: Zion Williamson, Damian Lillard, More Eyed by Execs for Trade Demand
Plans are reportedly in place around the NBA for teams to chase the next star who is unhappy with his situation.
Howard Beck of Sports Illustrated (h/t HoopsHype) reported: "Team executives are already bracing (and/or plotting) for the next disenchanted star to ask out, with speculation focused on Zion Williamson in New Orleans, Damian Lillard in Portland and Donovan Mitchell in Utah."
Mitchell's inclusion is notable after the Utah Jazz star addressed speculation he would leave the only NBA team he has played for during a conversation with Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
"There's going to be talk whether I say something, whether I don't say something because that's how I've always been," he said. "I've always been someone that's like, 'OK, they're saying stuff. Let's go ahead and lock in.' I haven't really thought too much about it. I'm happy right now and just continuing to find ways to win."
Mitchell's Jazz have enjoyed plenty of on-court success in the regular season, but he is yet to make it out of the second round. Last season, Utah posted the best record in the league at 52-20 before it lost in the second round to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Speculation that Lillard will ask out of Portland has been a consistent theme of late, and it won't go anywhere after the team traded CJ McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Lillard, who has been the face of the franchise since 2012-13 but has never advanced past the Western Conference Finals, developed into one of the league's brightest stars as he and McCollum shared a backcourt.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported earlier this month that teams around the league hope Lillard will "eventually ask to be traded" so he can pursue a championship elsewhere.
As for Williamson, he is yet to play this season because of injury and suited up for just 24 games during his rookie campaign in 2019-20. Durability is a major concern even if he is someone who can take over a game when he is healthy and playing at his best.
Christian Clark of NOLA.com reported in September: "Throughout his rookie season, Williamson had grown increasingly frustrated with the Pelicans for the number of hoops they required him to jump through to return from the knee injury he suffered in the preseason."
Perhaps he will ask out before signing a long-term deal with the franchise that selected him with the No. 1 overall pick out of Duke.
If he does, multiple teams will apparently be waiting to make a trade offer.
