Cuban: Didn’t ‘cancel’ anthem, was ongoing topic

During a September 5th meeting when the Portland Trail Blazers made it clear a trade with the Miami Heat was unlikely, Damian Lillard asked to rescind his trade request to remain with the franchise.

Joe Cronin responded by saying to Lillard that there was no coming back.

Sources tell Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report that “Lillard was shocked.”

Lillard began showing up to work out at the Blazers’ practice facility on Sept. 11th and went in for eight days. Lillard said Cronin did not address him once.

“I went into the facility because I was still on the roster and usually that time of the year is when team activities start to pick up as a group. I wasn’t confident I would be moved so I showed up to be in the mix,” Lillard told Bleacher Report.

Lillard met with Aaron Goodwin on Sept. 17 to discuss a contingency plan with the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets the preferred alternative teams.