Damian Lillard Trade Rumors: Teams Preparing Offers If Star Asks Out over No. 3 Pick

Damian Lillard's days in Portland may be numbered.

Rival NBA teams are reportedly preparing offers for the Trail Blazers star in the event Portland does not trade the No. 3 pick in Thursday's draft for a veteran star.

"Portland isn't admitting that, but the rest of the league knows it, and they're preparing their offers for what happens over the next 24 to 72 hours with how Lillard might react to them going forward and making the draft [pick]," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said Thursday on Get Up (7:30 mark).

"[Teams] are already getting ready, waiting for the moment to happen. Whether Lillard makes the move, or the Blazers make the move, nobody seems like they want to be the fall guy. Lillard doesn't want to look like the bad guy. The Blazers are still hoping to convince him to stay, but we'll see how long they continue with that position."

The Blazers appear increasingly likely to use the No. 3 pick on the leftover player between Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller after the Charlotte Hornets select at No. 2. While Miller could theoretically fit in with a Lillard-led Portland team, drafting Henderson would set of sirens that Dame's time is up.

In recent years, the Blazers already invested two first-round picks at the guard spot between Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe. Henderson would be the third—and the first among them to project as a lead ball-handler. Simons, Sharpe and Henderson are all 24 years old or younger. Lillard turns 33 in July.

Retaining Lillard alongside the three young guards would be a disservice to the waning years of Dame's prime and potentially bludgeon the development of Henderson, Simons and Sharpe. There are only so many guard minutes to go around, and there's an obvious odd man out.

From an objective perspective, the Blazers and Lillard have exhausted their time together—and opposing fanbases who have grown weary of the near-constant rumors. Few in Portland would begrudge Lillard for wanting to move on, and trading him would accelerate a much-needed rebuilding process for the Blazers.

The only parties that don't seem willing to admit a divorce is inevitable are the Blazers and Lillard.