Steph Chambers/Getty ImagesAccording to reports, Damian Lillard could request a trade due to backlash against the Portland Trail Blazers' negotiations to hire Chauncey Billups as their next head coach.Chris Haynes from Yahoo Sports reported that Lillard wasn't consulted about the pending hiring of Billups. Billups was also accused of rape in 1997 with ex-teammate Ron Mercer. Lillard's uncertain future in Portland is also being influenced by concerns about the Blazers inability to build a rival.In an interview with Jason Quick, Shams Charania of The Athletic, Lillard supported Billups as well as Jason Kidd. He also stated that "Jason Kidd" was the man he wanted in an earlier interview with Haynes.The All-NBA guard said that he wasn't aware of any past allegations against Kidd and Billups, in light of the backlash from some fans.Kidd pleaded guilty in 2001 to spousal abuse of Joumana, his ex-wife. Joumana, Joumana's ex-wife, accused Jason of repeatedly abusing their relationship throughout 2007.Kidd was hired by the Dallas Mavericks as their new head coach, despite the fact that the organization is three years removed from an investigation report that revealed serial sexual harassment of women within the organization.In 1997, a woman brought a civil suit against Billups & Mercer alleging that they raped and assaulted her at the house of her then-teammate, Antoine Walker. The day following the assault, a rape kit was performed on the woman and revealed injuries to her throat, cervix, and rectum. She also had bruises on her back. Semen was also found in her vagina.She testified that Billups and Mercer made her perform a variety of "unwanted" acts before she went black.The civil suit was later settled by Billups and Mercer. There were never any formal charges.Lillard claims he didn't know about the violence against women but his fans are rightly critical. Lillard only publicly supported two candidates who were the subject of domestic violence convictions and rape allegations.Lillard could be argued to have a responsibility for speaking out against the candidacy of Lillard as the organization's star.
