The Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz are interested in trading for Damian Lillard, who has requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers. The seven-time All-Star wants to get traded to the Miami Heat, according to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic.
“When Damian Lillard finally asked out of Portland on Saturday morning, with his agent, Aaron Goodwin, relaying the word to Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin by phone just six days after the three of them had met in person inside his office, there was no mistaking what the seven-time All-Star was hoping would happen next,” Amick wrote. “It was, as I reported hours before the meeting took place, Miami-or-bust. … The list of teams that have interest in Lillard is predictably long, and it’s known to include Philadelphia, the Clippers and Utah.”
Lillard was upset the Blazers didn’t trade the third overall pick in the 2023 draft for a star player. Miami didn’t aggressively pursue a trade for Bradley Beal — who was traded by the Washington Wizards to the Phoenix Suns — because Pat Riley wanted to save his assets for Lillard.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz & Miami Heat Updates
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 Jimmy Butler came to South Beach in 2019, believe they can win it all next season with Lillard in the fold next to Butler and Bam Adebayo. It’s worth mentioning that Lillard and Adebayo are very close friends.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz & Miami Heat Updates
The Sixers are currently dealing with James Harden’s trade request. The former MVP wants to get traded to the Clippers. Meanwhile, the Jazz acquired a bevy of draft picks last summer when the franchise traded Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, so they could offer the Blazers an intriguing trade package for Lillard.
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