Damian Lillard has demanded a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers and the expectation remains that Lillard will eventually end up with the Miami Heat, according to NBA insider Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
Lillard wants to play with Heat stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Dame is close friends with Adebayo.
“The expectation remains that Lillard will eventually end up with the Heat,” Chiang wrote. “Lillard wants to play alongside Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler in Miami as they all chase their first NBA championship. How and when will Lillard get what he wants, and will it get messy along the way? That remains to be seen.”
The Heat are the only team Lillard wants to get traded to. The seven-time All-Star has no interest in playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks or Brooklyn Nets.
The Blazers have not been impressed by the Heat’s trade package for Lillard. It appears a third team will need to get involved for Lillard to land in Miami next to Butler and Adebayo.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Miami Heat & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists last season for the Blazers. The Heat, who have reached two NBA Finals since Butler came to Miami in 2019, believe they can win it all next season with Lillard in the fold next to Butler and Adebayo.
The Heat are 0-2 in the NBA Finals in the Butler-Adebayo era, which started in 2019-20. The team is missing a scorer and playmaker like Lillard, who has career averages of 25.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists. Butler has told Hall of Famer Pat Riley that he wants Lillard on the Heat.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Miami Heat & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, has been advising non-Heat teams to not trade for his client. Since Lillard doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, the Blazers can trade the superstar anywhere.
However, the expectation around Lillard is that his insistence on Miami will discourage other teams from offering their best assets to try to acquire him from Portland.
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