The Portland Trail Blazers are “unmotivated to engage” with the Miami Heat on a Damian Lillard trade, according to NBA insider Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Lillard has demanded that the Blazers trade him to the Heat. However, Portland doesn’t have to listen to Lillard since the seven-time All-Star doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.
The Blazers have been using Summer League in Las Vegas to get a fuller understanding of the trade market for Lillard, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. Portland general manager Joe Cronin told reporters in Vegas that he’s willing to wait months to trade Lillard since he wants to get the best package possible.
The Heat are the only team Lillard wants to get traded to. The superstar has no interest in playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks or Brooklyn Nets. The Blazers, though, 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 Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & 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 TRADES, NEWS & 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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