Damian Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, told NBA reporter Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald that the Miami Heat “did everything they could” to acquire Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard requested a trade from the Blazers to the Heat on July 1, but Portland traded the superstar to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Lillard wanted to play for the Heat because he’s close friends with Bam Adebayo. Miami small forward Jimmy Butler wanted to play with Lillard as well. However, the Blazers were never interested in what the Heat had to offer them for Lillard.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat Updates, Milwaukee Bucks Updates
According to NBA insider Marc J. Spears of ESPN, Goodwin privately told the Bucks and Brooklyn Nets 10 days ago that Lillard would be interested in a deal to Milwaukee or Brooklyn. The Bucks made the Blazers a great offer and now Milwaukee has arguably the best Big 3 in the NBA.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Lillard are three of the top players in the league. Each All-Star can score over 25 points on any given night and the Bucks still have an elite defense since Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez are anchoring the paint.
The Heat offered the Blazers a trade package that included Tyler Herro and two first-round picks for Lillard, according to Spears. 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. Lillard signed a two-year, $121.8 million extension with Portland in July 2022.
Antetokounmpo recently admitted that he would leave the Bucks if there’s a better situation to win an NBA championship. Milwaukee won the 2021 title over the Phoenix Suns but lost in the second round of the 2022 playoffs to the Boston Celtics and fell to the Heat in the first round of the 2023 playoffs.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat Updates, Milwaukee Bucks Updates
The Bucks obviously heard Antetokounmpo’s comments and made him happy by trading for Lillard. Sources told NBA Analysis Network that Lillard and Antetokounmpo have wanted to play with each other for several years.
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