Damian Lillard Demonstrates You Can Leave Portland Without Blaming It On Crime

The Portland Trail Blazers traded their star point guard and franchise centerpiece of the last decade, Damian Lillard, to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. While fans lamented the departure of the important member of the team and community, some found solace in Lillard’s honesty about his reason for leaving. ⁣
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“Am I sad that we are at the end of the Dame Time era? Of course,” lamented dog walker and Hawthorne resident Kara Solomon. “Us ‘Zers fans will miss his stellar play and tireless commitment to, and love for Portland. However, when it was time for him to leave, he was a straight shooter. He said he wanted to leave to try and win a championship. Gotta respect that honesty.”⁣
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Lillard’s forthrightness shines in stark contrast with other high profile departures over the past year. When REI announced the closure of their Pearl District location, store spokespeople pointed the finger at rampant crime, despite the announcement coinciding with ongoing unionization efforts by employees. Target made similar claims when they closed three Portland locations earlier this week, ignoring widespread complaints about poor selection at those stores.