The Miami Heat are one loss away from elimination, and experts across the league find themselves wondering how the team will respond this summer. With Jimmy Butler not getting any younger, and the roster in desperate need of offensive fire-power, Damian Lillard is a name that has been mentioned as a potential solution.
While the Blazers have no intention of trading Dame now, that could change on a dime if they decide to rebuild in the offseason. According to Brian Windhorst, the Heat are a team to watch as a potential future landing spot for the 7x All-Star.
“The team I’m watching is the Miami Heat,” Brian Windhorst said on First Take. “The Heat are ready to go to their next star window. This is what they do. The Heat hunts stars. His time would probably match Jimmy Butler in terms of age. They have tradeable things potentially that the Blazers could want. I’m being a little premature but that’s kind of what I see happening.”
Brian Windhorst on Damian Lillard’s situation in Portland
“The team I’m watching is the Miami Heat…this is what the Heat do, the Heat hunt stars.” pic.twitter.com/Cj1niW79gR
— Playbook Sports (@PlaybookSN) April 13, 2023
The Heat finished first in the East last season with Butler and Bam leading the way, but they haven’t been able to recreate that spark this season. After sliding to 7th in the East, they are now on the verge of losing the play-in tournament.
Lillard and Butler would certainly change the game for the Heat, but what would it take for them to make that scenario a reality?
Heat May Be Willing To Pay Big For Dame
There aren’t many teams in the league as aggressive as the Heat can be in the offseason, and it’s why they are always connected to stars who are on the move. In this case, the price for Lillard would be insanely high (he’s under contract for several more years).
“It would have to start with Tyler Herro, once his extension kicks in, you can send him to Portland,” said an NBA executive, according to Sean Deveney of Heavy. “Then it is a matter of, can they include Kyle Lowry? Duncan Robinson? Portland would have to take back a bad contract to make it work. So then, how much draft capital is Miami willing to give up? They owe a pick (2025 first-rounder) to OKC, so they can only give up a couple picks, and they could include [Nikola] Jovic. They’d have to put everything into the now and there’s a chance they’re going to be willing to do that.”
At this point, it’s impossible to predict how things in Portland will play out, but you can bet the heat will be among several teams lined up for Damian Lillard if he ever does become available.
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