“If the Raiders trade Tae for a damn 2nd round pick I’m done,”
Damian Lillard wrote on his X account on Tuesday. And he’s got every reason to feel that way.
Damian Lillard, born and raised in Oakland, has been a die-hard Raiders fan since childhood, but even his loyalty is stretching thin.
The Milwaukee Bucks guard has remained loyal to the Raiders, despite their relocation to Las Vegas four years ago. However, rumors about the team potentially trading star wide receiver Davante Adams, formerly of the Green Bay Packers, are now testing his patience.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Raiders have reportedly indicated that they’d be open to trading the six-time Pro Bowl receiver if the right deal comes along—one that includes a second-round pick and other compensation.
Adams is currently in his third season with the Raiders after spending his first eight years with the Packers. The move to Las Vegas was ignited by his desire to reunite with former Fresno State teammate, quarterback Derek Carr, who was the Raiders’ starter at the time.
Adams got his wish, but their reunion was cut short when Carr was benched toward the end of the 2022 season. Carr was eventually released. Despite this, Adams kept performing at a high level in 2023, even though the quarterback situation wasn’t what he envisioned when he left Green Bay.
During the offseason, there were whispers about Adams’ future in Las Vegas, even though he was just about to start the third year of his five-year deal. Both the team and Adams made all the right noises heading into the 2024 season, publicly stating their commitment to one another.
Adams, who’s currently nursing a hamstring injury, missed the team’s 20-16 victory over the Cleveland Browns last Sunday.
Things got interesting on Monday when Raiders coach Antonio Pierce appeared to “like” a social media post by Sports Illustrated’s Michael Fabiano, which speculated that Adams might have “already played his last snap with the Raiders.”
The very next day, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported that Adams had expressed a preference to be traded. However, during his weekly press conference on Wednesday, Pierce dodged questions about Adams.
“Davante is dealing with a hamstring (injury),” Pierce said. “He’s rehabbing, and the rest of us are focused on Denver.”
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Despite his frustration with the Raiders’ situation, Lillard remains fully focused on his game. After a season that began with high hopes but ended in a disappointing first-round playoff exit, he’s determined to step up and lead the Bucks back to championship contention.
The eight-time All-Star didn’t waste any time during the offseason, fine-tuning his skills and even adding boxing to his training routine. With the regular season just around the corner, Lillard is ready to make “Dame Time” happen more frequently than it did last year.
“My teammates and my coaches, they’re going to get the real version of me this year,” Lillard stated confidently.
“I just know what type of year I had, and I know the type of summer I had (last year) and preparation I had, and they’re going to get the real version of me. That’s really all I can say,” he added.
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Picture Credit: © Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
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