- The Miami Heat seemed like the team that would win the Damian Lillard sweepstakes
- The Heat were willing to offer Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, 3 first-round picks, and numerous other assets
- Shams Charania reported that the Blazers showed ‘little or no interest’ in the offer
The Miami Heat seemed like the team Damian Lillard would end up with for the entire saga during this offseason. The Heat and the Blazers didn’t seem to see eye to eye the entire summer though, and Lillard eventually got traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The understanding was that the Miami Heat didn’t have enough assets to get Damian Lillard. But a recent report revealed the Heat’s offer and the trade package seems to be quite the big one.
Shams Charania said, “The Miami Heat were willing to offer Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, 3 first-round picks, first-round pick swaps, and multiple second-round picks for Damian Lillard.”
The Miami Heat were willing to offer Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, 3 first-round picks, first-round pick swaps and multiple second-round picks for Damian Lillard, per @ShamsCharania
The Blazers had little to no interest in engaging in a deal pic.twitter.com/zlyb1iRQUj
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 28, 2023
Eventually, the Portland Trail Blazers received Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, a 2029 1st-round pick, and 2 pick swaps as a part of the three-team trade. Jrue Holiday will be turned into picks as well, and as an All-Star, he is sure to command a good price.
It seems what it came down to in the end was the Blazers wanted Deandre Ayton a lot more than they wanted Tyler Herro. But the idea that Miami didn’t make a good enough offer for Damian Lillard is seemingly not very true at all.
The Trail Blazers Asked For Jimmy Butler Or Bam Adebayo
The Portland Trail Blazers may not have accepted the offer, but it would seem that there was a price they would have given Damian Lillard to the Miami Heat.
Shams Charania’s report also stated, “The Portland Trailblazers asked the Miami Heat for Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo in their first trade call centered around Damian Lillard.”
The Portland Trailblazers asked the Miami Heat for Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo in their first trade call centered around Damian Lillard, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/HAstRP3r4h
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 28, 2023
Jimmy Butler is the reigning Eastern Conference Finals MVP, a 6-time NBA All-Star, and has led the Heat to the NBA Finals twice since 2020. There is no way they would give him up in a trade for Damian Lillard as the hope was to pair up the two. They couldn’t get a deal done without him though, which is the issue.
Similarly, Bam Adebayo is the team’s second star and the anchor of their defense. He averaged 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game for the Heat last season. Miami would need both alongside Damian Lillard to remain true contenders in the Eastern Conference, which explains why they didn’t include them.
Miami Heat Still Have Alternatives
The Miami Heat may not have been able to land Damian Lillard, but that is not the end of the road for them to improve. While a package like that may not have been enough for the Trail Blazers, there are other options.
Jrue Holiday, who was traded by the Milwaukee Bucks to get Damian Lillard, is up for grabs. And while the Portland Trail Blazers didn’t want to give Dame up to Miami, an offer with multiple picks for the All-Star might convince them.
Zach LaVine has been constantly linked with trades away from the Chicago Bulls and could be another player who is a serious option. LaVine averaged 24.8 points per game last season and is an excellent scorer, he could help the Heat make a Big 3.
Another star that could leave his current team soon is Donovan Mitchell. He has stated his admiration for the Miami Heat in the past, and he could be a serious option for them. The Miami Heat have the chance to build an incredible team even now.
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