NBA warns Lillard of potential discipline for trade request comments
The NBA sent a memo to teams on Friday regarding the trade request for Portland Trail Blazers star guard Damian Lillard.
In the memo, the teams were told that Lillard and his agent, Aaron Goodwin, had been warned that he would make future comments about not fully performing his duties.
In the event of a trade, the player's contract would subject Lillard to discipline as determined by the NBA.
Lillard requested a trade from Portland in early July, shortly after the start of free agency.
The Trail Blazers confirmed Lillard's request in a statement, saying they would explore a trade opportunity that would be in the best interests of the team.
According to media reports, Goodwin told teams not based in Miami that he would trade for an unhappy player.
"We interviewed Goodwin and Lillard and also spoke with several NBA teams that Goodwin spoke with," the NBA memo said.
"Goodwin denied saying or implying to any team that Lillard would refuse to play for them," according to the memo.