One NBA writer has come up with a way for the Miami Heat to acquire Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Heat and Blazers:
The Trade: Heat trade Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, Nikola Jović, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2029 first-round pick and first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030 to Blazers for Damian Lillard
“The Heat won’t move a sizable salary until a Lillard deal is done,” Buckley wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “Both he and this squad hope said swap sends him to South Beach, and that probably is the most likely ending to this story. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because a deal isn’t done yet that it means it isn’t happening. Miami might be the only serious suitor in this pursuit, and if it is, there is no sense trying to outbid itself.
“Miami has played in three of the last four Eastern Conference Finals and twice reached the championship round in this stretch, but it’s never had quite enough offensive juice to clear the proverbial hump. Lillard would be a godsend. The back end of his contract could be rough, but the 33-year-old has shown no signs of decline yet. His 32.2 points per game this past season marked a new career high, as did his 64.5 true shooting percentage.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Lillard still wants the Blazers to trade him to the Heat despite the NBA’s initiative to warn Lillard and his agent that any further comments made “suggesting Lillard will not fully perform the services called for under his player contract in the event of a trade” will be subject to discipline, according to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Lillard is close friends with Heat center Bam Adebayo and believes he can win an NBA championship in Miami playing alongside Jimmy Butler and Adebayo. The Heat have been working on a trade package for Lillard of expiring contracts, three to four first-round picks and one of the team’s younger players, with Herro going to a third team. The deal could potentially also involve second-rounders and draft pick swaps.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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