Coincidence or prophecy? Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard visited Philadelphia on Thursday to undergo surgery on his abdomen. Lillard left the procedure “feeling good,” per Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports. Lillard will be re-evaluated in five to six weeks.

That was the end of the story until Philadelphia 76ers fans caught wind of it. Lillard has been the prized target of Sixers’ brass dating back to August when reports first surfaced that Ben Simmons wanted a trade. The six-time All-Star is considered to be one of the best point guards in the NBA. Lillard, not Simmons. And the Philly faithful serenaded him with chants of “We Want Lillard” back on November 2 at the Wells Fargo Center.

“I know what it is and I know what it’s about. But I’m a Trail Blazer,” Lillard said at the time. “I appreciate the love. I appreciate the respect that they showed and the desire or whatever … I’m 10 toes in Rip City.”

But Portland has underperformed all year and sits in 10th place in the Western Conference at 16-24. They aren’t a good basketball team right now. And Lillard had missed eight games while dealing with lower abdominal tendinopathy before electing for surgery. Needless to say, the rumor mill has the 2013 Rookie of the Year asking for a trade despite him refuting every single report.

“People are saying, ‘Dame is frustrated.’ I am frustrated with losing and not playing my best,” Lillard told Marc J. Spears. “But that doesn’t mean I’m sour on my team and I’m looking elsewhere. That has never been me.”