One NBA writer is proposing that the Miami Heat acquire Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers.
Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed that the Heat trade Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, the No. 18 pick in 2023, a first-round pick in 2027, a first-round pick swap in 2028 and a 2029 first-round pick the Blazers for Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic.
“As recently as this week, Damian Lillard said he wants to stay with the Portland Trail Blazers, but The Athletic’s David Aldridge wrote, ‘Miami has clearly prioritized getting Damian Lillard from Portland, with Jimmy Butler a central part of the Heat’s recruiting pitch.’ If that pitch entices Lillard, and the Blazers are unable to land a difference-making veteran with the No. 3 pick, it still feels like there’s a chance the Blazers could move their superstar,” Bailey wrote. “Like Bradley Beal, Lillard has a massive contract that could become pretty onerous by its end. The player option in 2026-27, Lillard’s age-36 season, is set to pay him $63.2 million. That could chill a Lillard bidding war just enough for Miami to be a realistic suitor.
“It can offer this year’s mid-first rounder and two future firsts outright. Throw in that 2028 pick swap, and you’re getting close to a deal in the range of the star packages we’ve seen from the last 12 months. And if that’s enough to get Lillard to the Heat, Miami would suddenly have a trio with him, Butler and Bam Adebayo that could reasonably be described as better than the Phoenix Suns’ new big three. Given what we’ve seen from that organization in terms of development and finding undrafted talent over the years, it’s easier to see them rounding out a supporting cast too.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers & Miami Heat Updates
Lillard and Heat All-Star center Bam Adebayo are close friends. The Blazers star is open to getting traded to the Heat if Portland doesn’t trade the third overall pick in the 2023 draft for a star player, sources told NBA Analysis Network.
Miami lost to the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Finals in five games. The team could get back to the Finals next season if Lillard was on the squad next to Adebayo and Jimmy Butler.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers & Miami Heat Updates
Dame is one of the greatest players in NBA history. He has career averages of 25.2 points and put up 32.2 points per game this past season.
The Heat didn’t trade for Bradley Beal because they want to save their assets for Lillard.
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