The Miami Heat would prefer to acquire Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard over Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
The Wizards are scared that Lillard could request a trade from the Blazers if the franchise doesn’t trade the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft for a win-now player to appease Dame.
“The fear in the nation’s capital is what happens if the Trail Blazers are unable to swing a win-now trade,” Stein wrote. “It is only a presumption at this point, but there is legitimate concern percolating for the Wizards’ new front office headed by Michael Winger that Lillard would finally start pushing the Blazers to trade him if Portland ends up drafting 19-year-old Scoot Henderson or 20-year-old Brandon Miller at No. 3.
“If that’s how things played out, Miami would surely be at or the near the top of Lillard’s list of preferred destinations — with the Heat said to prefer the idea of acquiring Lillard over Beal if they had the choice,” Stein explained. “Miami, at present, does not have that choice. Only Beal is in play.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal & Miami Heat Updates
Lillard hasn’t requested a trade from the Blazers, while the Wizards are already talking about a Beal trade with the Heat and Phoenix Suns.
Since Miami is very interested in acquiring Beal, Washington is under pressure to make a deal with them or Phoenix ASAP before the 2023 NBA Draft on June 22 because if the Blazers don’t trade the third pick, Lillard could request a trade and then the Heat would pivot off Beal and turn their attention toward Lillard.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal & Miami Heat Updates
Beal averaged 23.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists this past season, while Lillard put up 32.2 points, 4.8 boards and 7.3 assists per game. Neither All-Star has won an NBA championship, let alone reached the NBA Finals.
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