The Phoenix Suns “want to see if there is a way” to trade for Portland Trail Blazers superstar point guard Damian Lillard this summer, according to NBA insider Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports.
An Eastern Conference executive told Deveney that the Suns may waive veteran guard Chris Paul, trade him or bring him back if they can’t upgrade the position this offseason.
“There is a lot that can happen there,” an Eastern Conference executive said. “The Suns need depth all over that roster. They want to free up their payroll. They want to see if there is a way to bring in Dame (Lillard). They want to see what they can do with a DeAndre Ayton deal. There is a lot on the table. And the Lakers need to know where they are going with (D’Angelo) Russell. They’re not just letting him walk. They traded a pick for him. And who knows if they could get Chris to sign a vet minimum deal or what?
“But if it is a straight kind of thing, just giving (Paul) the $15 million and moving on, and everything else is equal, it is hard to imagine him not going to the Lakers.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers & Phoenix Suns Updates
Lillard signed a two-year, $121.8 million extension with the Blazers in July 2019. The Weber State product caused quite the stir this week when he said he would want to get traded to the Miami Heat or Brooklyn Nets if the Blazers decided to move him.
Dame also said he wants the Blazers to use the assets the franchise has at its disposal to make win-now moves. The seven-time All-Star averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists this season for Portland, who won only 33 games and missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers & Phoenix Suns Updates
The Suns would have a lethal Big 3 of Lillard, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant if the front office figured out a way to trade for Lillard. It will be interesting to see what happens this summer in Phoenix.
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