Lillard expressed his preference to return to the Trail Blazers and participate in training camp if the Heat trade couldn’t be finalized. However, Cronin informed him that returning to the team was not an option.
Cronin explained that if a deal with the Heat couldn’t be worked out, allowing Lillard to return after publicly requesting a trade would have been a significant distraction for the Trail Blazers as they were trying to move forward and establish a new era for the team. Lillard’s relationship with Cronin may have deteriorated, but the decision not to allow his return was based on the need to avoid disruption within the team. But now as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, Lillard is in a position to pursue an NBA championship, marking a significant shift from his previous experiences on underdog teams.