By admin 
As the Portland Trail Blazers negotiate a field of trade proposals in an attempt to appease star point guard Damian Lillard’s preferences, current speculations say that other teams have been urged to avoid Lillard owing to his lack of interest in playing for them.
Initially, those reports seemed to be in regard to middling teams like the Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz. Even a playoff-contender like the Boston Celtics found themselves being ushered to the side, as Turner Sports NBA insider Chris Haynes — who is notoriously close with Lillard — said that the seven-time All-Star wouldn’t want to play in Boston.
Speaking to radio host Pat McAfee, NBA insider Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic reports that “in those cases, where teams have done their backchannel research to find out what Dame is thinking whether he would want to play for us, whether it’s the Clippers, whether it’s the Celtics… I think the answer’s been a resounding ‘No.’”
If accurate, Lillard’s lack of desire in playing for either organization has yet to be explained.
In the case of the Celtics, Lillard’s apathy could be attributed to a fan base known for spewing racist slurs. The way Isaiah Thomas, Terry Rozier, and Marcus Smart’s tenures ended there may have played a role. Or maybe he just doesn’t see the connection.
Injury concerns for Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, as well as the future outlook of a franchise that was thought to be testing the waters of a George trade, might be a source of anxiety for the Clippers.