The Miami Heat continue to track and hope for a Damian Lillard trade. However, it doesn’t seem like there is much progress according to an NBA insider.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN commented on where the trade discussions have led to between the Heat and Lillard. It looks like “there’s no deal there,” says Windhorst. “Maybe there will be a deal between now and then (training camp),” continued Windhorst. But there is no sense of “any progression in that direction.”
Training camp starts in a couple of weeks for teams. If the report is true, that could mean the Heat and the Portland Trail Blazers are going to have to wait out a possible trade for an unknown period of time.
Lillard requested a trade from the team in the beginning of July. He mentioned that his desired destination is to the Heat. For Blazers GM Joe Cronin, he does not see any rush to make that trade work. Instead he is willing to wait for “months” in order to seek out the best possible trade for the team.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat Updates
Earlier today, it was said that the Heat would have to give up a haul of players and important assets to make the trade work. That is not something the Heat feel the need to do according to what Windhorst said in the Hoop Collective podcast.
Heat fans and players alike will just have to wait and see if the trade will happen at all before the beginning of the season. If it does, Miami could have a really good shot at returning to the NBA finals and get over the hump. Unfortunately, that would mean giving up a lot of players, including assets to achieve that goal.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat Updates
The Blazers on the other hand might be nervous to lose a corner stone of their franchise. Fortunately for them, they have a great young core for years to come. The roster could also include valuable assets if the trade were to go down.
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