The Miami Heat won’t increase their offer for Damian Lillard unless the Portland Trail Blazers show a willingness to make a trade, according to NBA insider Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
The Blazers have thus far not been inclined to trade Lillard to the Heat. Lillard, who is close friends with Bam Adebayo, still only wants to get traded to Miami.
“But a source in touch with the Heat said Miami has no incentive to increase its offer unless Portland shows a willingness to make a deal – which it hasn’t to this point,” Jackson wrote. “Lillard has not expanded his list of preferences beyond Miami, according to a source.”
Lillard requested to be traded from the Blazers to only the Heat on July 1. He has spent all 11 seasons of his NBA career with Portland, which selected him with the sixth pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. The Blazers finished 33-49 and 13th in the Western Conference last season.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Miami Heat & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
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 season. Lillard was upset the Blazers didn’t trade the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft for a star player. Portland drafted Scoot Henderson, who plays the same position as Lillard, with the third pick.
Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists last season for the Blazers. He will make $46.6 million next season. The future Hall of Famer signed a two-year, $121.8 million extension with Portland in July 2022.
Lillard and his agent, Aaron Goodwin, assured the league that Lillard would “fully perform the services called for under his player contract in any trade scenario,” the NBA’s memo to all 30 teams stated. The NBA sent a memo to every team after Lillard requested a trade specifically to the Heat.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Miami Heat & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Miami has been working on a trade package for Lillard made up of expiring contracts, three to four first-round picks and one of the team’s younger players, with Tyler Herro going to a third team. The deal could potentially also involve second-rounders and draft pick swaps, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
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