The Miami Heat have been involved in plenty of trade rumors this NBA offseason as they pursued Portland Trail Blazers star point guard Damian Lillard. While that is where Lillard and his camp wanted to go, that isn’t how things turned out.
The Portland Trail Blazers have completed a blockbuster deal centered around Lillard, but he isn’t going to South Beach. Instead, Lillard will be teaming up with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Milwaukee Bucks, who acquired him in a blockbuster three-team trade.
To land Lillard, the Bucks are sending Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers along with a 2029 first-round pick and two pick swaps. The third team involved is the Phoenix Suns, who are receiving Grayson Allen from the Bucks.
NBA RUMORS & NEWS: Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers & Jrue Holiday Updates
The Suns are sending Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara to Portland, while they are acquiring Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson. Phoenix has reloaded the depth behind their star trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
This is likely the start of a rebuild in Portland, who should be looking to acquire as many assets as possible now that they have moved on from Lillard. This is just the start of them being open for business, as Holiday will likely be rerouted sooner than later.
One team to keep an eye on, according to Evan Massey of NBA Analysis Network, is the Heat. After missing out on Lillard, expect Pat Riley and company to continue looking for help with Holiday now jumping to the top of their wish list.
NBA RUMORS & NEWS: Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers & Jrue Holiday Updates
Holiday would be an excellent fit for Miami as the starting point guard, forming a Big 3 with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. He is an excellent two-way player who fits Heat Culture and would be an excellent consolation prize after not being able to work out a deal to land Lillard.
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