Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard very publicly campaigned for Los Angeles Lakers assistant Jason Kidd to replace Terry Stotts as head coach, with Los Angeles Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups also getting some love. However, Lillard supposedly isn't making any actual demands when it comes to the head coaching hire, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick.
Lillard going to the media and expressing his explicit preferences is pretty close to a demand, but as of right now, he apparently isn't saying he'll ask for a trade if the Blazers don't listen to him when they decide on the next head coach. So, no ultimatum … yet.
Lillard won't be getting his Kidd wish, though, because the Lakers assistant has already turned down the job. Kidd said he felt uncomfortable taking the gig after Lillard openly named him as his top choice.
Billups, however, is still in the mix. Amick reports the Blazers are intrigued by the former NBA star, so he's a name to watch in these discussions. Hiring a first-time head coach would be interesting given the Dame situation and his future, but if he's already signing off on Billups, that would have to make Neil Olshey a bit more comfortable about hiring him.
With so many questions surrounding Lillard right now, it's only natural that other teams are monitoring what's going on with him. The Blazers won't trade him unless he puts up a stink and demands out given he's the face of their franchise and under contract through 2025, with a possible opt-out in 2024. While he's not making any demands now, things can change quickly in the NBA.
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