The Utah Jazz were rumored to be interested in Damian Lillard

The Utah Jazz were named as a dark horse for Damian Lillard, a rumor that’s being challenged.

Could you imagine Damian Lillard walking into the Delta Center, wearing a number zero in Utah Jazz colors? Well, you wouldn’t have been the only one to imagine such an out-there idea. Apparently, the Jazz themselves thought about that very idea, at least according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reported that the Jazz did in fact call the Portland Trail Blazers about acquiring the future first-ballet Hall of Famer, saying;

"“The Jazz made a call to check on Lillard, sources said, but that isn’t a significant development. An offer would be a development.”"

And he’s right, calling a team to talk is doing your due diligence as a general manager. It doesn’t hurt to know the price of something. What would the price be for Lillard? Probably more than any team really should take on. But even if Lillard came dirt-cheap, a second-round pick, and a bag of peanuts, some believe that Lillard wouldn’t even report.

According to SportsNaut’s Mark Medina, there are those in the know who believe that Lillard would just sit out.

"“He just wouldn’t go. He just wouldn’t report.”"

Now, if you know Lillard’s history, that doesn’t sound like him. It doesn’t sound like Lillard would just sit out for a variety of reasons.

The first being, he wouldn’t get paid. He would lose out on over $200 million. That’s absurd, and for what? Because he didn’t land in the one place he wanted? Arguably, the Jazz would be a better team for him post-trade than Miami. For the Heat to land Lillard, they’re going to have to trade every valuable piece sans Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler just to get Lillard. Then what? So no, Lillard wouldn’t sit out.

Secondly, he’s a professional. He’ll play wherever he’s dealt. The conversation around him not playing anywhere besides Miami is likely a calculated ploy to try and force the Trail Blazers’ hand, and it’s not working.

And lastly, what’s the alternative? Sit out until you’re almost 37 and chase a ring as a backup? Waste the rest of your prime years doing nothing? It’s unprecedented. In the world of pro wrestling, specifically with the WWE and AEW, sitting out doesn’t do anything. That’s still owed time. Contracts will just be extended and extended until you finish them.

Would the NBA contract situation play out similarly? It’s hard to say, as it has never happened. If Lillard gets traded, he’ll play. He’s a professional, under contract, making absurd amounts of money.

He’ll play.