• The Phoenix Suns have entered the conversation as a third team in a Damian Lillard to Miami trade, according to reports
• The Suns could add quality and maturity at the center position by acquiring Jusuf Nurkic in a trade
• Deandre Ayton, along with various Heat players, would join the Blazers in this move
The Damian Lillard trade saga seemed to pick up a lot of pace last night, with various reporters making stories about the increased urgency from both teams to get the deal done before training camp. But with the teams still far apart on price, other teams around the NBA could make the most of this trade standoff and add value to their own roster.
According to reports, the Phoenix Suns are interested in Jusuf Nurkic. Given their repeated attempts at moving on from Deandre Ayton have failed up until now, he can be the piece that swings a trade between the Heat and the Blazers, with each team getting what they want.
Trade Details
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Deandre Ayton, Tyler Herro, Caleb Martin, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jacquez Jr., 2027 First-Round Pick (MIA)
Phoenix Suns Receive: Jusuf Nurkic, 2026 Second-Round Pick (LAL)
Miami Heat Receive: Damian Lillard
The Blazers plunder the youth talent on the Heat and acquire another movable asset in Tyler Herro. The Suns add maturity in the middle with the steady play of Nurkic instead of the highs and lows they’ve gone through with Deandre Ayton. Most importantly, Lillard gets his preferred destination and the saga can finally end.
The Trail Blazers Get Maximum Player Value
Moving Lillard will ultimately create a lot of flexibility on the Blazers’ roster, which gives a lot of players an opportunity to shine. Beyond Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant, and Kris Murray, they’ll have an entire roster worth of rebuilding assets.
Deandre Ayton averaged 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds last season but seems to not be in a happy marriage with the Suns, who have tried trading him away repeatedly. The Blazers would have a starting center role for him, as he is still young enough to grow with the young core in Portland. The 24-year-old would be a fantastic player to shepherd through a rebuild that could become a fringe-contending roster soon.
Tyler Herro would likely be moved forward but could find a home easily given his talent. The Nets could really look at a player like him and not have to deal with the Heat if he gets moved to Portland. He averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists last season but missed the playoffs.
The young players the Heat send can fill the Blazers’ roster with quality. Jaime Jacquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic are both first-round picks from the last two drafts, and they also receive another pick to make them stacked with assets.
Phoenix Add A Center They’ve Had Their Eye On
Many would question why a young prospect like Ayton is being ditched on the low for Jusuf Nurkic, someone who has likely peaked in the NBA. It’s because the Suns are in salary cap hell and will severely restrict their team-building options if they continue paying out Ayton’s long-term contract along with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. Someone needs to be moved to make life under the new CBA bearable, and Ayton is that player in Phoenix.
Nurkic averaged 13.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.9 assists last season and is a versatile big man. He is offensively polished and has a serviceable jumper. While his defense gets vastly overrated at times, he is a perfectly solid center to have in pick-and-roll situations. He won’t provide the volume rebounding that Ayton did but maybe finds an extra gear in a contending situation.
Importantly, Nurkic makes $15.4 million less than Ayton, which would provide some crucial salary relief to the Suns. Given that Nurkic mocked the Bradley Beal trade when it happened, it’ll be interesting to see how he fits in if he’s moved in this deal.
The Miami Heat Get Their Guy At A Grave Cost
Unfortunately, the Miami Heat have to find a way to pay out equitable value for Lillard. If they can’t do so with their barren chest of draft assets, they have to do it with their chest of young players. Nikola Jovic has boosted his value after a solid summer league and would be a coveted piece in this trade. Meanwhile, Caleb Martin needs to be included along with Jaime Jacquez Jr. and Tyler Herro to make the money match.
Damian Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists and gives the Heat the superstar scoring option they need. While Jimmy Butler was amazing in the playoffs, his offense heavily trailed off after the first round. The Heat’s scoring was simply not up to par without Tyler Herro available, but Lillard is a massive upgrade on Herro’s scoring ability in the short term. He will also seamlessly fit into the team’s culture, something Herro has had a hard time doing.
Losing all these players, a first-round pick and a second-round pick to the Suns will be tough. But given the incredible developmental pipeline the Heat have, they can easily figure out their next steps with a Lillard-Butler-Adebayo big three.
A Happy Conclusion To A Two-Month Long Saga
All teams can walk out of this trade feeling like they’ve won something. The Blazers get an asset like Ayton that they have the room to rebuild in a more settled environment while also getting a movable asset in Herro. In addition, they get various young players that can come good in Jaime Jacquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic, along with a veteran like Caleb Martin to add frontcourt depth.
The Suns got to get off the Ayton contract with a decent player like Nurkic, who may fit better within the role and system that the Suns need. Getting a second-round pick in this deal is also great, given they emptied out their second-round capital for Bradley Beal.
The Heat may feel like their locker room is empty, but it’s all worth the price of a superstar talent like Lillard. Keeping future picks within their control is also massively beneficial, given the age of their core. But this would instantly make them among the favorites to win next year’s title.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
