Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports

Damian Lillard seems to commit himself to Trail Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard has, to his credit, not publicly asked for a trade to a different contender this summer despite rumors claiming he allegedly wanted out, and Lillard even refuted a story that said he could request a move either during or after the Summer Olympics. 

If there was still any lingering doubt about where the 31-year-old could be playing at the start of the upcoming NBA season, he seemed to put such questions to bed via an Instagram post on Wednesday: 

Lillard staying in Portland through at least the end of 2021 always seemed to be the inevitable conclusion to rumors that made more sense in the worlds of video games and "trade machines" than real life. He is just starting the supermax extension part of his contract, meaning only a handful of teams within reach of the NBA Finals could've actively pursued acquiring him during the ongoing offseason. 

As Aaron Fentress noted for The Oregonian/Oregon Live, Lillard has expressed concerns over the state of the franchise and could potentially force his exit from the Trail Blazers as soon as next summer. For now, however, the six-time All-Star is staying put to the delight of Portland fans who never had any legitimate reason to be nervous about the situation. 

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