The Portland Trail Blazers could acquire multiple first-round picks in a three-team Damian Lillard trade with the Miami Heat, according to NBA insider Shams Charania. Lillard has requested a trade from the Blazers and only wants to play for the Heat.
The Blazers are seeking four first-round picks and two quality players in return for Lillard, according to Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive. It’s believed a third team will need to get involved for Lillard to land with the Heat.
Lillard has spent his entire career with the Blazers, who drafted the point guard with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 draft. Lillard has career averages of 25.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists with Portland. He’s the Blazers’ all-time leading scorer.
The Heat are the only team Lillard wants to get traded to. The seven-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer has no interest in playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks or Brooklyn Nets.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers & Miami Heat Updates
The Blazers have not been impressed by the Heat’s trade package for Lillard, who averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists last season. The Heat, who have reached two NBA Finals since Jimmy Butler came to Miami in 2019, believe they can win it all next season with Lillard in the fold next to Butler and Bam Adebayo.
Lillard expressed his frustration with the Blazers in recent years for failing to construct a roster capable of making a title push. The Weber State product felt the time was now to request a trade after coming off a career year.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers & Miami Heat Updates
Lillard was upset the Blazers didn’t trade the third overall pick in the 2023 draft for a star player. Portland drafted Scoot Henderson, who plays the same position as Lillard, with the third pick. A Lillard trade is not expected to happen anytime soon since Summer League is taking place in Las Vegas.
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