To get a good understanding of the situation, it’s important to know that Ronaldo has two main agents: Jorge Mendes and Simon de Quieroz. The former runs Ronaldo’s affairs for him, while the latter is a consultant for Mendes; they represent a large number of top players in the world, and are instrumental in the transfer market. The Ronaldo-Juventus situation has been a tense one: after four years at the Juventus, Ronaldo returned to United and signed a new £300,000-a-week, four-year deal in the summer of 2018.
It’s been five years since Cristiano Ronaldo left Old Trafford for the Bernabeu in a world record £80m move after nine seasons with the Red Devils. After everything he’d achieved, it was hard to believe that Ronaldo would leave but that’s exactly what happened. The Madrid outfit also offered him bonuses of £30m each year, which he couldn’t turn down.
To get a good understanding of the situation, it’s important to know that Ronaldo has two main agents: Jorge Mendes and Simon de Quieroz. The former runs Ronaldo’s affairs for him, while the latter is a consultant for Mendes; they represent a large number of top players in the world, and are instrumental in the transfer market. The Ronaldo-Juventus situation has been a tense one: after four years at the Juventus, Ronaldo returned to United and signed a new £300,000-a-week, four-year deal in the summer of 2018.
Damian Lillard was chosen sixth overall out of small Weber State in 2012 because to his skill and productivity in college. Since then, he’s played nothing but basketball for nine seasons, becoming the most recognized Portland Trail Blazer of all time. (There’s a case to be made for Clyde Drexler or Bill Walton, but after that, it’s LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy. Ouch.) Dame has always said that he wants to remain a Blazer for the rest of his life. He aspires to follow in the footsteps of Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan and spend his whole career with one team. However, Portland is making it very difficult for him to do so.
Lillard isn’t the same as James Harden. He isn’t Anthony Davis in any way. To go back a decade, he’s not Carmelo Anthony. The 31-year-old has no desire to push his way into a larger market or join a great squad. Lillard just wants Dame Moment to be a winning time for the team. Portland, on the other hand, does not seem to be providing him that opportunity.
Dame made a home in Portland and has never forgotten the organization that took a chance on him.
Steph Chambers/Getty Images Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts after his three-point goal in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets during Round 1 Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs |
NBCSports quoted Lillard as saying:
“Being the first to do anything is usually a plus. Especially being a member of a company where I want to stay for the rest of my career. It’s an honor, but I wish it had come as part of a winning effort.”
Damian Lillard discusses his ambition to play his whole NBA career in Portland.
To put things in perspective, that statement was made in 2016. Dame has always been loyal to the city and franchise that initially welcomed him. The six-time NBA All-Star is fiercely devoted, maybe to an unhealthy degree. He’s plunged himself headlong into the metropolis of Portland. People respect Lillard, and he respects them in return. He doesn’t simply call Portland home. It’s a place to call home.
Since that statement, the Blazers have reached the playoffs every year. However, they were eliminated in the first round four times out of six.
Lillard went on to say in the same NBCSports story from 2016:
“I want to cling to what I appreciate about a place when I truly like what it’s about. I want to do things that are in line with my personality.”
Lillard discusses his thoughts regarding the Trail Blazers.
Damian Lillard wants to follow in the footsteps of Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan, but Portland is making it very tough.
In 2018-19, the Trail Blazers advanced to the Western Conference Finals. It seemed like Dame Dolla and the franchise had finally made it over the hump. Two years later, Portland has seen two more first-round exits. And the front office of the club hasn’t done anything to alter it.
The Blazers signed Pau Gasol, Rodney Hood, and Anthony Tolliver in 2019. Hood, Derrick Jones Jr, Harry Giles, and the organization kept 36-year-old Carmelo Anthony for another season in 2020. So far this summer, the club has re-signed Norman Powell, added Tony Snell, Ben McLemore, and Cody Zeller, and re-signed trade deadline acquisition Norman Powell. Jones Jr. was traded to the Blazers in exchange for Larry Nance Jr. in a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. None of these names are persuading Lillard to remain in Portland.
In last year’s first-round exit, Lillard averaged 34.3 points and 10.2 assists per game while shooting 45 percent from three on 13 tries. CJ McCollum, who averaged 20.7 points per game, was the only other Portland player to average more over 20 points per game. In game five, Notre Dame had 55 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, and 12 three-pointers. Logo Lillard dominated a whole set, hitting huge shots left and right and shooting almost flawlessly from long range… and his squad was defeated by Denver in six games. It was the first time he openly criticized the team’s failure to create a championship challenger, according to ESPN:
“I mean, we didn’t win a title, so where we are today is clearly inadequate. I’m not sure what a shakeup looks like or what adjustments would or might be done, but it wasn’t good enough as it was. We were defeated by a squad that was without its starting point guard and shooting guard (Will Barton and Jamal Murray). … Obviously, where we are now isn’t good enough to win a title if we can’t even get out of a first-round series without two of their top three or four players.”
After last year’s first-round playoff elimination, Damian Lillard discusses the condition of his club.
Lillard is making every attempt to remain, but it seems like he will leave at some point.
Since 2015, Damian Lillard hasn’t played alongside an All-Star, All-NBA, 6MOTY, COTY, ROTY, or All-NBA defense. Despite playing in a difficult West, he has never missed the playoffs! pic.twitter.com/vl3Sajjei0
August 29, 2021 — NBA Memes (@NBAMemes)
Despite Dame’s pressure on the organization, Nance was the lone addition to the roster this summer. If Portland wants to keep its greatest star, it will have to make some major changes.
McCollum has previously said that he wants to be Lillard’s backcourt running partner. General Manager Neil Olshey of the Blazers has swiftly and categorically dismissed any idea of trading McCollum. Keeping him on the roster, though, has proven to be detrimental. The team’s greatest trade asset is the former Lehigh standout. He and Lillard’s backcourt combination is clearly insufficient to win a championship. There will have to be a change, and McCollum will be the one to go. If that doesn’t happen, Portland will lose the greatest player the club has ever had.
Basketball-Reference provided all statistics, and Spotrac provided roster information.
RELATED: With Head Coach Mike Budenholzer’s 3-Year Extension, the Milwaukee Bucks are Taking a Huge Risk.
Related Tags
- portland nba
- portland trail blazers record
- damian lillard net worth 2021
