Damian Lillard had a reaction similar to many other NBA players after finding out Kawhi Leonard had been traded to the Toronto Raptors for DeMar DeRozan in an early morning blockbuster deal:

It's a cold game indeed, Dame. It always has been.

DeRozan was arguably the most likely candidate to retire a lifelong Raptor, surpassing Vince Carter as the perennial face of the once-expansion franchise.

Article Continues Below

DeRozan was also reportedly promised by the front office that he would not be traded only days ago, and is now infuriated with how they have gone about making this deal behind closed doors.

Lillard is in the same boat in Portland, having played all of his career with the Trail Blazers, despite recently being in the midst of trade rumors with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Blazers general manager Neil Olshey has not made any moves, but if he does, it could prove to be a cold game for Lillard as well, as the Blazers were recently swept out of the playoffs and still lack a clear streamlined plan of attack against a Western Conference that gets more stacked every offseason.