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Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard has been the subject of some speculation lately about whether or not he will stay in Portland, opting maybe to get an opportunity in a bigger market since his current team doesn't seem ready to compete for a championship right now.
As he has done in the past, Lillard has put a stop to any and all rumors of that type with two words in one single quote tweet.
Sure will https://t.co/kFD2XbxtDE
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) January 23, 2018
Below is the tweet Lillard quoted, asking him whether he'll be with the Blazers next year.
Will @Dame_Lillard remain with the @trailblazers, beyond this year? #SPEAKFIRST
— SPORTS FIRST (@SPORTS_PRIMERO) January 23, 2018
Here is why Twitter works so well for NBA players, and athletes in general. The best part about Twitter is that any time someone is speculating about players or writing things about them — whether it be positive or negative — a player can respond right away, in as plain language as they want.
In this case, Lillard could not have been more clear. This comes the morning after a report from ESPN's Chris Haynes that Lillard had a secret meeting with Blazers owner Paul Allen to discuss the direction of the franchise and whether or not they were committed to winning. Allen was reportedly concerned that Lillard would approach him with a trade request, but instead, the six-year veteran reaffirmed his commitment to Portland and the Blazers.
However, things always change in the NBA. Lillard could very well intend to stay and the organization could have other plans for the future. With Lillard being the undisputed face of the franchise, that scenario seems unlikely.
This could be looked at another way. Lillard's tweet could be a message to the organization, reaffirming his stance that he's staying, and maybe other players should be the ones to go.
One thing is for sure: Lillard likes Portland and wants to stay.
