The possibility of Damian Lillard being traded to the Heat seems less and less likely as the NBA offseason progresses.
Although obstacles to the trade haven’t been expressed officially by the Heat, ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst offered insight on the potential deal based on what he’s hearing from sources. Apparently, the Trail Blazers are asking a lot of the Heat in return for Lillard, but Miami apparently isn’t willing to meet Portland’s asking price.
“They want the Heat to literally scrounge into every nook and cranny and produce everything they possibly can,” Windhorst said on his podcast, The Hoop Collective. “The Heat don’t feel the need to do that.”
The Blazers want the Heat to empty out all of their assets for Damian Lillard, per Brian Windhorst on the Hoop Collective
— Heat Diehards (@HeatDiehards) September 18, 2023
“They want the Heat to literally scrounge into every nook and cranny and produce everything they possibly can. The Heat don't feel a need to do that,” pic.twitter.com/56BC1FmIsN
A recent report from Sam Amico of Hoops Wire stated that the Trail Blazers want the Heat to include Caleb Martin in a potential trade, but Miami is reluctant.
As of now, the Lillard trade talks don’t seem to be reaching an end anytime soon. The seven-time All-Star requested a trade from Portland, where he’s spent his entire career, on July 1. Despite Lillard’s preference to be traded to Miami, he’s expected to report to training camp whether or not he’s shipped out of Portland.
