- Portland Trail Blazers have shown no enthusiasm to trade Damian Lillard
- Over one month has passed since Dame’s trade request went public
- Heat have not given up their pursuit of Lillard despite spurned offers
Damian Lillard has been adamant about his desires since day one of his trade request. With his eyes set on Miami alone, Dame’s “Heat or bust” policy has not changed after weeks of waiting, and as recently as today, he confirmed his intent to leave the Blazers for good.
Even still, Portland remains uninterested in a deal with the Heat. “As of early this week, the Blazers have expressed no enthusiasm for the Heat’s assets or interest in engaging in serious negotiations (via Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald).”
It’s no secret that the Blazers are low in Miami’s pool of assets, which is limited to Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and a handful of mid-level picks. It’s not the sweetest haul for Lillard, but critics have pointed out that it might just be the best offer on the table right now.
Even for a player of Lillard’s caliber, no teams are willing to trade for him right now, knowing that he only wants to play for Miami. In today’s NBA, trading for an unhappy star is akin to sabotage and very rarely pays off.
So, unfortunately for the Blazers, the Heat have been the only team willing to negotiate right now, and it could be some time before they make an offer that Joe Cronin will consider.
Can The Heat Land Lillard Before Training Camp?
At 33 years old, Lillard is still in his prime, and the Heat are projected to be top-flight contenders with him in the lineup. But unless they can get some assets that Portland will accept, they may never land Dame.
It’s been reported already that the Blazers are seeking a package of young picks and players for their franchise superstar, so it’s up to Pat Riley to find a way to bring him in without trading any of their core guys.
It’s a feat that seems impossible right now, but don’t doubt that Miami will find a way to pull it off with enough time. It’s just a waiting game after all, and Pat Riley knows how to be patient.
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