The Nets have “genuine interest” in acquiring Damian Lillard if he asks the Trail Blazers for a trade, sources tell Brian Lewis of The New York Post (subscription required). During an appearance this week on Showtime’s “The Last Stand,” Lillard named Brooklyn and Miami as his preferred destinations, citing the Nets because of his friendship with Mikal Bridges.
Appearing Thursday on The Dan Patrick Show, Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT indicated that any trade speculation involving Lillard should be limited to those two teams, adding that Brooklyn may rank first on Lillard’s list. Haynes also believes the Blazers would try to honor Lillard’s wishes because of his long tenure with the franchise.
“If it gets to that point, they would consult with Dame because, you know, Dame’s been there 10 years, been a model citizen representing that city, in that organization, with class, all throughout,” Haynes said. “I think they will try to get him where he wants to go; in the East, that is, I do not see and envision a possibility that he would be traded to a Western Conference team.”
Zach Harper of The Athletic suggests that the Nets may be able to acquire Lillard without giving up Bridges or center Nic Claxton. Harper envisions a deal built around the expiring contracts of Spencer Dinwiddie and Joe Harris, along with several of the draft picks Brooklyn accumulated by trading away James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.
There’s more from Brooklyn:
- The Nets are typically secretive about their workouts, but Emoni Bates is among the potential second-rounders the team has hosted over the past few weeks, Lewis adds. Bates was once the top-ranked recruit in the nation, but he’s been disappointing through two seasons at Memphis and Eastern Michigan. Lewis notes that Bates has been working out for several teams to try to change his reputation. Brooklyn holds the 51st pick, along with a pair of first-rounders.
- Corey Vinson, who worked with Bridges in Phoenix, has joined the Nets as an assistant coach for player development, according to a Nets Daily article. He becomes the seventh assistant on Jacque Vaughn‘s staff.
- Brooklyn has seen a lot of coaching turnover since Vaughn replaced Steve Nash in November, Lewis writes in another New York Post story. The organization has shifted its focus from winning with a team of star players to trying to develop young talent.
Keep dreaming Nets. That’s a horrible package for Dame. Trade your franchise player for Joe Harris or Dinwiddie and picks lol.
Add Simmons and it’s a fair trade
Simmons? Lol
He’s still in the NBA?
Dame is getting older, increasingly injury prone, doesn’t play a lick of defense, and will be making a boatload through his senior years.
Is that return too light for him? Yes. But the clock is ticking here. The Blazers can’t wait forever for the perfect offer, lest they risk another injury or the inevitable decline in production
Unless it’s like 6 #1s, lol. Why the hell would they want Joe Harris who plays about 8 min per game and Dinwiddie, a PG who would be on his 4th team in 4 years, and Portland has Anfernee Simons & Shaedon Sharpe, who can handle the PG & SG duties for the next 10 years.
They’ll do him right by sending him to Brooklyn? Hope that was worth holding out for, Dame. Just goes to show in a transactional league loyalty is a weakness, not a strength.
Expiring deals and 1sts is a good package. Anything that has Simmons should be a nonstarter.
Emoni Bates might very well be the steal of this draft!
I don’t even want Lillard on the Nets. Hes going to be 33, can’t play any defense and gets paid around 50-60 million a year. If he was 4 years younger I’d so go for it. I’d rather just use Cam Thomas over Lillard. Yes Lillard is better than Cam Thomas but is it really by that much? They are the same type of player, as in no defense and all scoring. Dame is a better passer/playmaker than Cam but hes nothing special at it. Cam is going to be 22-23 years old, his scoring is elite, I don’t care what anyone else says. Start Cam every game and he can be a dynamic duo with Bridges or even a third guy. A big three of Bridges, Cam Thomas, and say maybe the Nets can pull off a trade for an elite power foward, thats good enough for them to be a top 4 seed in the east. Cam Thomas is a star in the making, all he needs is a chance
Nets don’t need Dame. They can build this team without him. It’s all about Ben with the Nets. Can you count on him to get back to playing. Ben the real Ben at PF. Makes this a solid playoff team.
Dinwiddie, Bridges, Cam, Ben, Claxton that’s a solid 2way team. Nets also have picks 21, 22. Murray and Clowney are two solid picks. That can help next yr as rotation guys. They can sign a backup center.
Lopez is a FA and Vucevic is a FA. Both are good fits here imo.
Nets appear to have assets, and be a destination on the list. I’m Okay with Dinwiddie, and Harris.
Harris stinks, but might be able to offload his deal at the deadline for an accommodation fee, and take in an additional 1st that otherwise would not be included.
Harris, Dinwiddie, 3 1sts