The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/portland-trail-blazers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Portland Trail Blazers</a> are in a delicate spot with <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/damian-lillard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Damian Lillard</a>. They still don’t want to trade him to the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miami Heat,</a> but he hasn’t changed his mind about his desire to be traded.



Lillard is undisputedly one of the greatest — if not the greatest — player in franchise history, even if he didn’t lead them to the Finals or a championship like some before him.



That’s why Anfernee Simons always dreamed of asking him for a signed jersey once he retired with the Blazers. But now that he may join another<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba"> NBA </a>team before that, he might have to speed up that request.



<h2>Anfernee Simons Wants Lillard To Give Him A Signed Jersey</h2>



“I was hoping to ask for signed jersey when he retired from Portland but I mean, if he ends up somewhere else I’m going to have to ask for it before,” Simons told Aron J. Fentress. “He taught me so much about the game, being professional, how to workout, how to carry yourself in this type of environment, how to handle success. He’s taught me a lot of things that have set me up in my career.”



“So obviously, those lessons will be missed and hopefully, I’ll obviously carry what he’s taught to me onto the other young players as well,” the young guard continued.


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Lillard was always a mentor and a leader to the young players, but he grew sick and tired of not being able to compete at the highest level. Even so, it feels like his stalemate with the team is far from over.

Anfernee Simons has one big request for Damian Lillard before he's traded

Anfernee Simons has one big request for Damian Lillard before he's traded - Bolavip US

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<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/damian-lillard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Damian Lillard </a>put the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/portland-trail-blazers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Portland Trail Blazers</a> under a lot of pressure with his latest comments. He made it clear that he doesn’t want to be a part of a rebuild, and even admitted he’d like to play for the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miami Heat.</a>



Lillard pretty much told the Blazers that they need to build a championship-contending team now or they must trade him, and that’s no easy choice, all things considered.



However, according to <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA </a>insider Kevin O’Connor, it seems like the front office has made up its mind already, and they’ll look to trade Anfernee Simons and the No. 3 pick to put another star around Lillard.



<h2>Blazers Still Want To Build Around Damian Lillard</h2>



“My league sources say that Portland’s interest in building around Lillard is genuine,” O’Connor wrote. “The front office is exploring deals for the no. 3 pick, and it’s also open to moving Anfernee Simons.”



“Jaylen Brown, Pascal Siakam, or Mikal Bridges would make sense as potential targets via trade, but it’s unclear what level of appetite the Blazers have for that kind of trade,” the report continued. “Come draft night, they might just pick.”


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Truth be told, the Blazers might need more than just another star to be a legit contender, but it’s nice to see that they’re at least trying to get better rather than giving up and rebuilding.

Anfernee Simons

Anfernee Simons has one big request for Damian Lillard before he's traded

Blazers have made a decision about Damian Lillard