Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard has serious interest in playing for the Miami Heat, according to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic.
The Heat are very interested in trading for Lillard, who has a meeting with Blazers officials soon. If that meeting doesn’t go well, it’s possible Lillard could request a trade from Portland.
“But if there isn’t a meeting of the Trail Blazers minds in Portland this week, and if the roster upgrades that are proving so difficult to pull off don’t come to fruition when the calendar turns to July and the crucial week that follows, it’s all eyes on Miami from there,” Amick wrote.
Lillard could choose to force the issue to pursue a trade sending him to the Heat if he does not see the Blazers pursuing a viable pathway to competing at a high level next season. He wants the team to re-sign Jerami Grant and sign Draymond Green in free agency.
“Lillard indeed has serious interest in joining the Heat, who would surely love to pair him with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. If it reaches this point — and there’s still an ‘if’ here considering all the times Lillard chose not to ask out before — Lillard’s wishes would matter a great deal because of the enormity of his contract,” Amick explained.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers & Miami Heat Updates
Lillard and Heat center Bam Adebayo are close friends. Miami didn’t aggressively pursue a trade for shooting guard Bradley Beal — who was traded by the Washington Wizards to the Phoenix Suns — because Hall of Famer Pat Riley wanted to save his assets for Lillard.
A seven-time All-Star, Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists this past season while shooting 46.3% from the field, 37.1% from beyond the arc and 91.4% from the free-throw line. The Heat, who have reached two NBA Finals since small forward Jimmy Butler came to South Beach in 2019, believe they can win it all with Lillard in the fold next to Butler and Adebayo.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers & Miami Heat Updates
Lillard has career averages of 25.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists. He’s one of the greatest players in NBA history and could win a championship with the Heat if he finally requests a trade from the Blazers.
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