The Miami Heat have been preparing a package around 3-to-4 first-round picks, potential pick swaps, second-round picks and a young player for Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
Lillard has requested a trade from the Blazers and only wants to get traded to the Heat.
The Blazers used NBA 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 in return for the All-Star guard and future Hall of Famer.
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. Since 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 Jimmy Butler and Bam 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 elite 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, but the Blazers have thus far resisted trading Lillard to South Beach.
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 Weber State product anywhere.
The NBA has sent a memo to all 30 teams in the wake of Lillard requesting a trade to the Heat. Lillard and his agent can no longer talk about wanting to play for Miami.
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