To get Damian Lillard to South Beach, the Miami Heat are making no compromises. Having said that, they are allegedly willing to trade any player on their roster save Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
Mr. Winderman of the SF Sun-Sentinel notifies that the Heat are ready to do anything it takes to close the trade, with the exception of their two superstars.
Damian Lillard’s preferred destination?
In the midst of the Miami Heat’s ongoing free-agent negotiations, which have seen them lose guard Max Strus to the Cleveland Cavaliers and sign center Thomas Bryant from the Denver Nuggets, news broke that Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard is not only looking for a trade but has the Heat at the top of his list.
"Take anyone you want besides Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler… The Heat are all-in on this. This is their moment.”
— @IraHeatBeat provides an update on the negotiations between the Blazers and the Heat for a potential Damian Lillard trade 👀pic.twitter.com/ahyOQK79Cd
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 3, 2023
Lillard, 32, has been connected to the Heat for weeks. He has watched the Blazers adopt a youth movement, which included selecting potential star Scott Henderson at No. 3 last week. The Heat has been diligent in safeguarding both their rookie candidates in their association and their upcoming 1st-round picks in light of a potential deal for Lillard.
Damian Lillard would allow the Heat to have a super strong core consisting of him, Bam Adebayo, and Jimmy Butler.
Who should Blazers pick from Heat in exchange for Damian Lillard?
To balance a trade within the salary cap, the Heat may consider offering Tyler Herro, Caleb Martin, Jaime Jaquez Jr. in the 2023 first round, and the salaries of Kyle Lowry and/or Duncan Robinson in exchange for Lillard. While Scoot Henderson, a 6-foot-2 point guard who was selected by the Blazers with the third overall pick in the NBA Draft, is an “elite, franchise-altering prospect,” he is still only nineteen years old and won’t likely have a significant impact in Lillard’s position on the team’s ability to win next season.
In a statement released last week, Portland Trail Blazers GM Cronin stated that the organization would explore work proposals for Lillard while assessing what was most suitable for the future of the franchise. “We have been clear that we want Dame here but he notified us today he wants out and he’d prefer to play someplace else,” Cronin stated.
“What has not changed for us is that we’re committed to winning, and we are going to do what’s best for the team in pursuit of that goal.” The Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, and San Antonio Spurs are among the other teams interested in Damian Lillard.
