:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59846087/usa_today_10799606.0.jpg)
Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard is inquiring about a second meeting with owner Paul Allen, according to John Canzano of The Oregonian. However, Lillard took exception to the report the next day. As Canzano reported Thursday evening:
”I hear that he is asking for another meeting,” an NBA front-office source told me on Thursday.
The meeting may already be in the works, according to Canzano’s unnamed source, who also mentioned a key name:
In fact, Lillard may have already requested a follow-up meeting with owner Paul Allen, the source indicated. Apparently, the source said, Lillard’s agent Aaron Goodwin is whispering as much.
Friday morning, Lillard responded in terse fashion via Twitter. While he did not technically deny Canzano’s report, he made his feelings clear about the Oregonian columnist.
His word ain’t one to follow. Dude is a clown https://t.co/hLMuyHiC3l
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) May 25, 2018
Lillard originally made headlines after his first meeting with Allen in late January ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline. According to Chris Haynes’ report, Lillard told Allen that he “has championship aspirations”, discussed players to target, vouched for head coach Terry Stotts, and asked why close friend and former teammate Will Barton was traded to the Denver Nuggets.
After that meeting, the Blazers went 26-12 to finish the season, capturing the third seed in the West. However, despite having home-court advantage, they were promptly swept in the first round in four games by the New Orleans Pelicans.
[Note: This article was updated from the original report with Lillard’s Friday morning response]