Damian Lillard has been a massive figure in the news recently because almost every critic and fan is pleading for the 7-time All-Star to leave Portland and join a better situation that will allow him to win a championship. Due to the fact that Portland is not exactly a free-agent destination and the franchise missed out on the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, Lillard won’t have a legitimate chance to win next season. Despite the presence of Anfernee Simons (21.1 PPG and 4.1 APG this season) and 20-year-old Shaedon Sharpe (9.9 PPG and 3.0 RPG), the Trail Blazers are not built for immediate contention.
Damian Lillard seems to enjoy being a big fish in a small pond, as making All-Star Teams and averaging 30 PPG without expectations seems to be what the point guard has wanted in recent years. Of course, Lillard’s salary is extremely impressive when looking at the next three seasons. Lillard will make $45,640,084, $48,787,676, and $58,545,211 until the 2025-26 season. The superstar point guard has probably built a future Hall of Fame legacy regardless of his lack of postseason success, but it might be time for the player to actually win a chip. With his former teammate and friend CJ McCollum essentially claiming Dame is done with Portland, Lillard could join four very solid franchises to actually be placed in a position to compete.
It seems that Damian Lillard is done with not having a contending roster in Portland, and finally, he could force his way out. The fact that the point guard also listed his Oregon home for sale could be another indication that Dame Time is over in Portland. There are four major destinations for the 7-time All-Star, including the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, and Miami Heat. Each of these franchises would love the chance to acquire Lillard and make a push in the Eastern Conference, and here is what the trade details look like for each side.
New York Knicks
Here is what a potential trade package would look like to bring Damian Lillard to “Gotham City” and form a dynamic duo with Julius Randle.
Trade Details
New York Knicks Receive: Damian Lillard
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Jalen Brunson, Obi Toppin, 2024 First-Round Pick From Dallas Mavericks, 2024 First-Round Pick From Detroit Pistons, 2025 First-Round Pick, 2026 First-Round Pick
The New York Knicks have been in a contending phase for at least two years now, and they are in need of a superstar player to lead their team to success. After making the second round of the playoffs, the Knicks did not have enough to make the Conference Finals. In a nutshell, Damian Lillard is one of the best point guards in the league, and he would be a perfect fit for the Knicks.
Firstly, Lillard is a proven winner. He has led the Portland Trail Blazers to the playoffs in eight seasons, and he has consistently performed at a high level in the postseason despite the team’s lack of success. Lillard’s leadership and experience could help them break that streak. The point guard is also a dynamic scorer. He has averaged over 20 points per game in each of the last 10 seasons, and he has a career average of 25.2 PPG. The Knicks have struggled to score in recent years, and Lillard’s ability to create his own shot and knock down threes would be a huge boost to their offense.
Lillard is a great fit for the Knicks’ culture. He is a hard worker and a team player, and he has a reputation for being a great leader both on and off the court. The Knicks have been focused on building a strong team culture in recent years, and Lillard’s presence could help them continue to develop that culture. The partnership alongside All-Star Julius Randle would also make the Knicks a formidable side, with the starting lineup becoming Damian Lillard, Immanuel Quickley, R.J. Barrett, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson.
The Knicks clearly have the assets to make a trade for Lillard. They have several young players and draft picks that could be attractive to the Trail Blazers, and they have the cap space to take on Lillard’s contract. While it would be a big investment, trading for Lillard could be the move that puts the Knicks back on the map as a contender in the Eastern Conference.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics made it to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals this year thanks to the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but the latter could be looking for a chance to change scenery, and the Celtics can capitalize on trading for Damian Lillard.
Trade Details
Boston Celtics Receive: Damian Lillard
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Jaylen Brown
The Boston Celtics have been a contending team in the NBA for several years now, making the Finals last year and coming one game away from making the Finals a second time in a row. One potential solution to this problem could be to trade Jaylen Brown for Damian Lillard. Lillard is one of the best point guards in the league and would provide the Celtics with a much-needed scoring boost. Brown, on the other hand, is a talented player, but he has not yet reached the level of stardom that Lillard has achieved.
In addition to his scoring ability, Lillard is also a great leader on the court. He has consistently been one of the top players in the league in terms of assists, an underrated aspect of his game, and he has a knack for making his teammates better. This would be a huge asset for the Celtics, who have struggled with team chemistry in recent years. This season, Dame averaged 7.3 APG and he is a point guard that the Celtics desperately need.
Another factor to consider is the age difference between Brown and Lillard. Brown is only 26 years old, while Lillard is 32. While Brown has plenty of potential, he may not be able to reach the same level of success as Lillard for several years. By trading for Lillard, the Celtics would be getting a proven superstar who is still in his prime.
Of course, there are also risks involved in trading for Lillard. He has a large contract and would require a significant amount of assets to acquire. Additionally, the Celtics would be giving up a talented young player in Brown. However, if the Celtics are serious about winning a championship in the near future, trading for Lillard could be the move that puts them over the top. The duo of Tatum and Lillard would bring more efficient scoring than Tatum and Brown, while the Celtics finally get a legitimate point guard. The new starting lineup would be Damian Lillard, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, and Robert Williams, with Malcolm Brogdon and Derrick White providing minutes off the bench.
Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets made the biggest moves this season before the trade deadline, getting rid of both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and bringing in youngsters Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson. Bridges specifically is a talented two-way player who is on his way to All-Star stardom, and the acquisition of Damian Lillard would make the Nets a consistent playoff team in the Eastern Conference.
Trade Details
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Damian Lillard
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Nicolas Claxton, Cameron Johnson, Cam Thomas, 2023 First-Round Pick From Phoenix Suns
The Brooklyn Nets have been one of the most dominant teams in the NBA in recent years, but they have yet to win a championship which is why the franchise traded both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Adding Damian Lillard to their young and up-and-coming roster would give them a lethal scoring threat and a proven winner. Lillard is one of the best point guards in the league, and his ability to create his own shot and knock down clutch shots would make him a perfect fit alongside budding star Mikal Bridges. Bridges averaged 20.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 3.3 APG in the regular season and 23.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 4.0 APG in the playoffs.
Pairing Lillard with Mikal Bridges would also give the Nets a strong two-way presence on the perimeter. Bridges is a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions, and his length and athleticism would make him a valuable asset in the Nets’ switch-heavy defensive scheme.
In terms of what the Nets would have to give up to acquire Lillard, it would likely involve parting ways with some of their younger talent, including starting center Nic Claxton and two talented wing players. While losing those players would certainly hurt, the opportunity to add a player of Lillard’s caliber to their roster would be worth it.
Overall, trading for Damian Lillard and pairing him with Mikal Bridges would make the Brooklyn Nets an even more formidable team and give them a legitimate shot at building for a chance to make the push in the Eastern Conference. The new starting lineup would be Damian Lillard, Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Day’Ron Sharpe. What the Nets do with Ben Simmons would also be interesting because if he can return to All-Star form, Brooklyn can field Simmons in the starting lineup and possibly create a Big Three.
Miami Heat
Damian Lillard with the Miami Heat would be an incredible match made in heaven because of his clutch ability and mentality. Lillard has made it clear his priority is to join the Miami Heat if he leaves Portland, although the Heat winning the 2022-23 NBA championship could throw a wrench in this equation. Regardless, here are the trade details that net the Heat a legitimate superstar point guard.
Trade Details
Miami Heat Receive: Damian Lillard
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Tyler Herro, Max Strus, Caleb Martin, Nikola Jovic, 2023 First-Round Pick, 2026 First-Round Pick
The Miami Heat are competing for the NBA title this year, down 2-1 to the Denver Nuggets. Not to mention, they made the Finals in 2020 and almost made the Finals last year before the Boston Celtics took them out before the Finals. No doubt, adding Damian Lillard to their roster would give them a dynamic scoring threat and a leader on the court. Pairing him with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo would create a formidable Big Three that could compete with any team in the league.
Lillard is one of the best point guards in the NBA, and his ability to score from anywhere on the court would make him a perfect fit for the Heat’s offensive system. He is also a great playmaker, averaging over 7.0 APG last season, which would help the Heat’s offense flow more smoothly. Lillard’s leadership and work ethic would also be a great addition to the Heat’s locker room culture.
Pairing Lillard with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo would create a Big Three that could rival any in the league. Butler is a tenacious defender and a great scorer, while Adebayo is one of the best big men in the NBA. The three of them would create a versatile and dynamic offense that would be difficult for any team to stop.
The Heat would have to give up some assets to acquire Lillard, but it would be worth it in the long run. Lillard is only 32 years old and has several years of elite play left in him. The Heat would also have to give up some young players and draft picks, but they have shown in the past that they are willing to make bold moves to improve their team.
The new starting lineup would become Damian Lillard, Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love, and Bam Adebayo under an elite head coach in Erik Spoelstra. Whether the Heat win the title or not, they need to go after Lillard because the point guard made it clear he wants to play for the South Florida-based franchise, and losing Tyler Herro and other role players and picks is a package the Heat would be willing to entertain.
