The Portland Trail Blazers are unlikely to trade Damian Lillard to the Miami Heat, according to NBA insider Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
Lillard requested a trade from the Blazers to the Heat on July 1. In the nearly three months since that request became public, no substantial trade conversations have taken place between Miami and Portland.
“What’s behind the lack of contact between the Heat and Trail Blazers? It’s a product of both teams understanding where the other stands, enough to realize that a deal isn’t possible unless one side is prepared to do something different that it initially planned,” Chiang wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “One league source who spoke to Portland’s front office last week was told by the Trail Blazers that a trade that sends Damian Lillard to the Heat is unlikely.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
The Heat offered the Blazers a trade package that included Tyler Herro and two first-round picks for Lillard, according to NBA insider Marc J. Spears of ESPN. Lillard only wants to get traded to the Heat because he’s close friends with Bam Adebayo and believes he can win an NBA championship in Miami playing alongside Jimmy Butler and Adebayo.
“Lillard is attracted to the Heat because the reigning Eastern Conference champions have title potential and have two stars in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo whom he wants to team with, sources have said,” Spears said. “Additionally, the work ethic and discipline that come with the renowned ‘Heat culture,’ and the lack of a state tax in Florida and greater marketing potential, are also of interest to Lillard, according to sources.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
One of the top players in NBA history, Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists last season in 58 games. The point guard was a guest on the BACKONFIGG show on YouTube and he talked about why he requested a trade from the Blazers. Lillard said he and Portland don’t want the same thing anymore.
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