Damian Lillard has requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report. The Miami Heat are Lillard’s preferred destination. Bam Adebayo and Lillard are very close friends.
According to Haynes, the Heat are prepared to offer the Blazers a package centered around Tyler Herro, with possibly Duncan Robinson and picks. Miami would prefer to keep Caleb Martin out of any trade scenarios.
The Blazers could try to include Jusuf Nurkic in a deal to shed his salary. Lillard has a close relationship with Nurkic.
One of the greatest players in NBA history, Lillard has expressed his frustration with the Blazers in recent years for failing to assemble a roster capable of making a championship push. The Weber State product felt the time was now to request a trade after coming off a career year. He averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists this past season.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Miami Heat & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, the Blazers aren’t high on Herro, who is believed to be the best player Miami could offer Portland in a trade for Lillard.
“While any trade will be a collaborative effort between the team and Lillard, the Blazers will, understandably, want the best possible return,” Mannix wrote. “Portland is lukewarm on Tyler Herro, sources told Sports Illustrated. He is entering the first year of a four-year, $130 million contract.”
Herro averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Heat during the 2022-23 regular season. He was third on the team in points per game, trailing only Butler and Adebayo.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Miami Heat & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
The 23-year-old Herro signed a four-year, $120 million rookie contract extension with the Heat in October 2022. The Milwaukee native has career averages of 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 242 games with Miami. He broke his hand in the first round of the 2023 playoffs versus the Milwaukee Bucks and never came back.
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