- Damian Lillard gets traded to the Bucks in huge three-team deal
- Former Blazers star will join Giannis to form powerful new duo
- Heat franchise in shambles after failing to acquire top trade target
Since Damian Lillard named them as his preferred destination, the Miami Heat have been squarely in the driver’s seat for negotiations around the 7x All-Star. For weeks, it was assumed that the Heat would end up with Lillard by training camp but that all changed a few hours ago when the trade to the Bucks was announced by league insiders.
As part of a blockbuster three-team deal, Lillard is set to join Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Bucks while the Blazers enjoy a solid return of Deandre Ayton, Jrue Holiday, and a future first-round pick. Meanwhile, in Miami, the franchise is still coming to grips with missing out on their top prize after months of being in the lead — and the NBA fans have come together to blast them for it on social media.
Heat fans rn 😅😅 😅 pic.twitter.com/XwzmFdd3gz
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 27, 2023
Heat fans
— Overtime (@overtime) September 27, 2023
The Heat lose out on landing BOTH Giannis and Dame in the same day.
Cold world. pic.twitter.com/VdC0pgNc7B
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 27, 2023
Heat thought Blazers would give Dame 2 them 4 free. Outside of Butler/Bam everyone else would’ve been expendable along with draft picks.
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) September 27, 2023
Pov: Heat fans today pic.twitter.com/Sp5EUHJFcH
— 𝓨𝓥𝓛𝓢 (@lakeshow_18) September 27, 2023
Of course, the Heat are still a pretty good team overall and they have the same core that got them to the NBA Finals this summer. With Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro in tow, Miami is still expected to be a contender in the East but it’s impossible to say they are on the same level as the Bucks, Celtics, and other Eastern Conference powerhouses.
How Did The Heat Lose Out On Damian Lillard?
Thanks to aggressive comments by Damian Lillard and his agent, Aaron Goodwin, the Heat were ‘unmotivated’ to offer their best package for the 7x All-NBA player. Instead, Pat Riley and the Heat “dared” Portland to find a better deal and that’s exactly what they did. While not the best return package, getting back a nice young center in Ayton is better than anything that Miami had to offer. Now, Portland can focus on building toward the future with a backcourt led by Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and young sharpshooter Anfernee Simons.
In Miami, Pat Riley is still confident that his team is in a position to succeed but it wasn’t just Damian Lillard that they lost. While the Heat were still negotiating with the Blazers, they let several key role players walk including Max Strus and Gabe Vincent — who were huge for them down the stretch of the season.
Are The Heat Still Contenders In The East?
With Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and the powerful effect of ‘Heat culture,’ it’s likely that Miami will continue to pose a threat in the East this season. But with no major additions, and Butler being another year older, how can they hope to keep up with the Bucks, who have Giannis and Dame leading the show?
It remains to be seen how the Heat will respond, or if they’ll make any moves at all before the season, but fans are angry with the front office for not taking advantage of the league’s top point guard specifically wanting to go there — and it could be a while before something similar happens again.
For the 2023-24 campaign, it’s unwise to count out the Heat completely but their chances for a title have taken a noticeable dip in the wake of this latest development and they may come to regret not making a stronger offer for one of the game’s all-time best perimeter players, who is coming off the best season of his career with averages of 32.2 points per game on 46.3% shooting.
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