The Portland Trail Blazers wanted Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo from the Miami Heat for Damian Lillard, according to NBA insiders Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic. The Blazers wound up trading Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.
“The Blazers and Heat had multiple conversations in July, but the sides never engaged in substantive negotiations, according to those sources,” Charania and Amick wrote in their latest NBA trade column. “In an initial call, the Blazers asked the Heat for Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo. The Heat came to believe that the Blazers had little to no interest in engaging in a deal with them, and as much as Lillard and Goodwin wished that the Blazers would attempt to satisfy the seven-time All-Star’s wish, Portland refused. As the summer progressed, Lillard wanted the Blazers to find a deal with Miami, but those wishes, in his mind, also went unfulfilled.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat Updates
After Lillard realized the Blazers wouldn’t trade him to the Heat, the seven-time All-Star became open to playing for the Bucks and Brooklyn Nets. Milwaukee acquired Lillard and now has arguably the best Big 3 in the NBA in Lillard, Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Lillard wanted to play for the Heat because he’s close friends with Adebayo. Butler wanted to play with Lillard as well. However, the Blazers were never interested in what the Heat had to offer them for Lillard.
One of the best players in NBA history, 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.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat Updates
The Heat will now try to acquire Jrue Holiday from the Blazers. The Bucks traded Holiday to the Blazers in the blockbuster Lillard deal.
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