Damian Lillard requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers in 2023. It was long overdue.
Lillard had already spent 11 years with the same franchise -- an eternity in today's NBA. But despite his individual success as arguably the best player Portland has ever had, Lillard never experienced team success, at least at the highest level. Seven All-Star seasons with the Blazers resulted in just one Conference Finals appearance, where they ultimately got swept by the Golden State Warriors in 2019.
Lillard was patient. He was loyal. Everything a team could ask for from the face of their franchise.