5 Untraded NBA players that need to be rescued

2. Damian Lillard – Portland Trail Blazers

Is there such a thing as loyalty in sports? Sure, but more times than not it is a quality that slants one-sided. Teams and players are devoted to each other until something better comes along. In rare instances, those organizations hold onto players past their expiration dates. A more common occurrence that sticks out in the minds of many is the star who refuses to ask out until their window has closed.

Although he made it out of Minnesota, in time, Kevin Garnett became the NBA poster child for staying too long with the franchise that drafted him. Unfortunately, the next candidate to take over that title is unquestionably Damian Lillard.

After 10 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, Lillard finds himself wasting year 11 surrounded by youth that is not ready for anything close to a deep push in the playoffs. For more perspective, Lillard is the only player over 30 years old on a team with 11 players who are 25 and under.

This is a squad that watched him put up a 60-point game, a 50-point game, and nine 40-point games with seven others barely missing that mark by five points or less. He has put in his tenure and proved his loyalty, now it is time for Portland to give Lillard the courtesy of letting him compete in the Finals.

1. Bradley Beal – NBA-Washington Wizards

To a certain extent, Bradley Beal is in a similar situation. However, for some reason, his standing with the Washington Wizards is always perceived as worse. Both players signed big-money extensions while preaching loyalty to teams they knew would be going nowhere. So, they have more in common on the court than not. That includes being surefire offensive weapons when healthy.

Like Lillard, it has felt like all Beal has to do is say the word and the Washington Wizards would grant him a trade request. What better time than the summer after year 11, when teams like the Miami Heat are waiting on the hotline?