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Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum upset about Ed Davis’ departure

By Blake Cockrum

PORTLAND, OR - SEPTEMBER 25: Ed Davis #17 of the Portland Trail Blazers goes after a loose ball in the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Moda Center on September 25, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won 113-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - SEPTEMBER 25: Ed Davis #17 of the Portland Trail Blazers goes after a loose ball in the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Moda Center on September 25, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won 113-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum sad to see Ed Davis go

Ed Davis averaged just over five points and seven rebounds per game for Portland last season, and those numbers are pretty consistent with his production over the course of his three-year stretch with the Trailblazers.

But judging by the reaction of his now-former teammates, Davis’ impact on the team went far beyond the numbers.

Less than an hour into the start of free agency, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski announced that Davis and the Brooklyn Nets had reached an agreement on a one-year deal worth $4.4 million. It was a good buy for the Nets – particularly for a player that many consider to be the best backup center in the NBA – and one that Portland fans would like to have seen the team match. They didn’t, though, and Davis now begins a new era nearly 3,000 miles away.

The entire situation felt strange for a player that had confessed his desire to remain in Portland for the remainder of his career, and was so highly thought of by fans, ownership and teammates. A couple of the teammates that felt so strongly about his presence with the team are C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard.

Just after the news broke, both players expressed their displeasure with Davis’ departure from the team. The star players took to Twitter, McCollum stating that Portland had “lost a real one”, while Lillard simply posted a broken heart emoji.

https://twitter.com/CJMcCollum/status/1013296735915999232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1013296735915999232&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2783991-letting-ed-davis-walk-pissed-off-blazers-lillard-mccollum-was-it-worth-it

https://twitter.com/Dame_Lillard/status/1013290887760269312

The explanation behind the move is still a bit cloudy, as most were under the belief that Davis wanted to stay in Portland. There were even reports that Davis had told team executives that he wanted to remain a Trailblazer.

Alas, he’s gone, and both parties will now move in a separate direction. It is quite an honor, though, for Davis to see the outward emotion from his former running mates in the wake of his departure.

Next: Tar Heels' top NBA prospect according to ESPN

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