Damian Lillard’s trade request shook up the NBA. Yet another star talent was about to be on the move.
The consensus was that he’d be playing ball this year in a Miami Heat uniform. That’s quite literally what Lillard requested. The Heat also seemed to initially be the only team making legitimate offers — partially because Lillard nuked Portland’s leverage in trade talks with his demand for the Heat.
Well, now, he’s a Milwaukee Buck. And the Heat are without a legitimate starting point guard.
This all could’ve been avoided for Miami had the team just simply made its best offer for Lillard before frustrations boiled over with Portland. That doesn’t seem to be what happened, though.
Miami was “prepared” to make a substantial offer for Lillard between July and August, according to the latest from The Athletic’s Shams Charania, that included “up to three” first-round picks, expiring contracts, pick swaps, Nikola Jovic and more.
But from the language in Charania’s latest article, it doesn’t seem like the offer was ever truly made.
“For their part, league sources say the Heat were prepared in July and August to offer up to three first-round draft picks — with Tyler Herro going to a third team — and multiple second-rounders and swaps along with expiring contracts and 2022 first-round pick Nikola Jović. But the Blazers were disinterested, with each side developing a level of contentiousness.”
We don’t know if Miami ever made this offer — especially considering what the initial trade market for Lillard was when the Heat were thought to be the only team exploring a trade.
Remember, the same thing happened with the Knicks last season after all of New York’s flirtations with the Jazz surrounding a Donovan Mitchell trade. The Cavaliers actually made a legitimate offer and snatched him away. New York said it would’ve done it, but never actually did. The same vibe is here.
Plus, we don’t know what the protections surrounding those first-round picks were nor do we know what expiring contracts were being included. On the surface, this seems like a great deal. But it’s probably not better than what the Blazers actually got, which amounts to Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, two pick-swaps and a 2029 first-round pick.
RELATED: Check out our trade grades for the Damian Lillard deal
Maybe the Heat could’ve had Lillard if the offer was better. Or maybe it never actually came to fruition. We’ll never actually know because Lillard is a Buck now.
But fans are roasting Miami, regardless, for missing out on a huge opportunity.
Just to be clear, language matters.
"were willing to offer" is not the same as "offered". https://t.co/3UTtfyKJYv
— Anthony Doyle (@Anthonysmdoyle) September 28, 2023
The wording is so funny…Were willing. Easy to say what you were welling to do after the fact. What was actually offered? https://t.co/WqytOgimz9
— Oz (@OBtoojiveforyou) September 28, 2023
We are going to hear a lot over the next 24+ hours about who offered what for Dame, what the Blazers asked for etc…
I promise you, there is only ONE deal we 100% know what was actually offered, and that is the deal that went down yesterday. https://t.co/LGQTIDnnCz
— Chris Burkhardt (@ChrisJBurkhardt) September 28, 2023
Miami trying their hardest to spin this, just like the Knicks did when the cavs swooped in and got Mitchell. https://t.co/tdEPHsoiYD
— James Gubler (@gubihero) September 28, 2023
We’ll have to see what the Blazers get for Jrue but that is a very good offer.
I will note, though, that “willing to offer” and “offered” is different verbiage. https://t.co/bxDdAkAEbi
— Alec Sturm (@Alec_Sturm) September 28, 2023
Then why didn’t they? Everyone is reading this as what was actually offered.
This is just Miami trying to save face. https://t.co/b55KYgxjIY
— Kris (@5kl) September 28, 2023
I think teams after they miss out on a trade exaggerate how willing they were to actually give up stuff. It’s also possible POR really liked Ayton and thinks Jrue will get them equal pick compensation https://t.co/Qy0t3OPxIF
— D.O.C (@darwinchvz320) September 28, 2023
Easy to say they were willing to offer but the reporting has never indicated they did offer it.
Again, back to the NYK-UTA negotiations. Sure, Knicks had a great potential package. But they never offered it. https://t.co/KiGiGhGonb
— Adam Bushman (@adam_bushman) September 28, 2023
