Lillard on Trade Request Speculation, ‘I Know What the Truth is’

Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard detailed the difficulties he faces when attempting to clear the air about his situation in Portland. In a conversation with The Athletic’s Christopher Kamrani, Lillard explained that he is often trapped between a rock and a hard place when it comes to trade rumors.

Lillard, who was visiting Weber State last week, explained that he knows where he stands on the matter.

“You get to a position where it’s like, ‘Do I defend myself or do I just say nothing.’ For me, when I’m just hearing stuff that’s not the facts, I’m going to say I didn’t say that,” Lillard said. “Some things I’ve just got to let it be said. I know what the truth is. I know where I stand. It’s not my duty to make the public know … it’s not my job to make them aware of what that is.

“It definitely has been different. I feel like I’ve handled it like I’ve handled everything. I just let it happen. I let people talk and I just stay true to who I am and I stand on that. If I say something, I stand on what I said. It is what it is, at this point.”

Lillard’s comments follow an offseason that was filled with trade speculation and an apparent shift in tone when it comes to the star guard’s tone with the Blazers.

The rest of Kamrani’s feature focuses on Lillard’s relationship with Ogden, UT and Weber State. You can read the entire feature at The Athletic (subscription required).