BREAKING: NBA Sends Out Warning To Lillard About His Trade Demand

The days of the one-team trade demand in the NBA may be over. The league office has sent out a memo to all 30 teams and the NBAPA indicating that players and agents will be subject to discipline henceforth for a trade demand to only one team. The memo singles out Damian Lillard and his agent for their 'Miami Heat or Bust' trade demand to the Portland Trail Blazers.

NBA sent a memo Friday to all 30 teams about Damian Lillard’s trade request and the stance that he only wants to play in Miami. Reporting details on @TheRally: pic.twitter.com/xkgMfcTeqI

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 28, 2023

The NBA has advised Lillard and his agent Aaron Goodwin "any future comments, made privately to teams or publicly, suggesting Lillard will not fully perform the services called for under his player contract in the event of a trade will subject Lillard to discipline by the NBA."

In the memo, the league states that Goodwin denied telling other teams that Dame only wants to play for the Heat, which of course is highly questionable given the agent's much-publicized comments of earlier this month:

News: Regarding report about message to non Heat teams, Lillard's agent, Aaron Goodwin, tells me: "I do what I should for my client. Some teams I did call. Other teams have called me. It's a respectful relationship with most teams. Truthfully, he wants to play in Miami. Period."

— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) July 6, 2023

"I do what I should for my client," said Goodwin at the time that the trade request came out. "Some teams I did call. Other teams have called me. It's a respectful relationship with most teams. Truthfully, he wants to play in Miami. Period." 

Full NBA memo sent to all 30 teams regarding rhetoric on trade request made by Damian Lillard and his agent Aaron Goodwin.

“Recent media reports stated that Damian Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, called multiple NBA teams to warn them against trading for Lillard because…

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 28, 2023

James Harden is another player this summer who has demanded a trade to only one team, the Los Angeles Clippers. We've gotten word earlier today that that isn't working out too well for him either at this point. There's no mention in the NBA memo about Harden, other than to warn all teams and players that this league stance applies across the board. 

This new tough stance by the NBA is long overdue, and it'll be interesting to see how the players respond. 

Photo: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports