The Trail Blazers are believed to be seeking a package in the neighborhood of four first-round picks and two quality players in exchange for Damian Lillard, according to Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian, who spoke to Lillard’s agent Aaron Goodwin about the negotiations. Goodwin reiterated that he’s telling other teams that his client only wants to play for the Heat.
“It’s not fair to a team to allow them to engage in a negotiation that could be futile in the end,” Goodwin told Fentress.
While Lillard may be focused on the Heat, it would require the involvement of at least one more team for the Blazers to get a package anywhere near the level they’re looking for. Having traded its 2025 first-round pick to Oklahoma City, Miami can only currently offer two first-rounders.
As we wait to see if negotiations between Portland and Miami gather any momentum with teams convening at the Las Vegas Summer League, here are a few more trade and free agency rumors from around the NBA:
- League sources tell K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago that Zach LaVine‘s name has come up in preliminary trade discussions with both the Sixers and Trail Blazers. Neither of those conversations gained traction, according to Johnson, who hears that the Bulls‘ asking price for LaVine has been “extremely high.” Still, Johnson says the team has “fluctuated in its belief in LaVine’s consistency as a lead option.”
- Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice.com hears from sources familiar with the situation that the conversations between the Sixers and Bulls were really just “check-in” talks prior to the draft and didn’t evolve beyond that. So there’s no indication at this point that any multi-team deal involving LaVine and James Harden is on the way, Neubeck writes.
- The Sixers‘ deals with centers Mohamed Bamba and Montrezl Harrell haven’t diminished their desire to retain restricted free agent Paul Reed, a team source tells Noah Levick of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
- The Spurs legitimately considered the possibility of an offer sheet for restricted free agent guard Austin Reaves, ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on his Lowe Post podcast. The Lakers ultimately re-signed Reaves on a four-year, $54MM deal, which was the most that they could give him directly — another team could’ve tested Los Angeles’ resolve by making a four-year offer worth up to $102MM. “I know San Antonio was going back and forth on it and for whatever reason didn’t do it,” Lowe said.
I have no dog in the fight, but I was POR to trade Dame to anywhere but Miami, since his agent is pushing teams away. POR needs to do what they can for their future, not someone does not want to be there. He is not going to sit out and lose $40 mil
Very true. I mean, I’d try what I can, but at the end of the day, I’m getting the best deal I can. They don’t owe Dame anything, the max money and say in roster decisions was enough. Players work for the owners, and yes it’s a relationship/partnership, but at the end of the day the owners/management have the final say..
The way the NBA caters to its players often times baffles me. I mean good for them really, but they’re already paid millions of dollars and well compensated for their efforts.
To me, the fact alot of players think they should be able to demand where they are traded, WHILE THEY’RE UNDER A CONTRACT that they themselves signed is just insane.
Let any one else go to their boss and DEMAND anything, and you see how far that gets you…lol
People are really overreacting to that report. It was pointed out as a “common tactic” and that the Blazers FO don’t expect it to affect anything. C’mon now. It’s just gamesmanship on the part of the agent to try and do what his client wants, not some evil plan to make Lillard the king of the world or something. I doubt Lillard even asked his agent to do that; he probably just said “I only want to go to Miami” and the agent jumped at the chance for a leverage play. Overreacting to keep a big client happy is the way of every business.
Sorry but you make zero sense. The agent already received hoods commission on the current contract. He has nothing to gain whether Lillard is traded to a Miami vs any other team. And I rarely have heard a player star explicitly where they order to be traded and didn’t literally mean it. A guy might get traded divergence he didn’t want to and be professional and go anyway but I absolutely think that’s the only destination Lillard would be happy to play with. He might go wherever he’s traded and not priest but he likely won’t be happy.
I don’t think you realize how much of the agent game is built in reputation. If a guy like Lillard decides he’s not doing a good job and ditches him, what message does that send to other prospective clients? Not a good one. There’s a reason Rich Paul is so famous and demanded as an agent. Even when his client isn’t getting another big deal, he keeps pushing for them because it attracts more business.
It is reasonable?
Blazers seeking four first-round picks, two quality players in deal
I say Yes
It’s a matter of understanding.
Former Nets Harden and Irving has little trade value.
The problem is that if you are another team and know that Lillard only wants to go to Miami, are you going to give up lots of assets to have a disgruntled star who doesn’t want to be there and will keep pushing to be traded again from the new destination?
KG wanted to go to the Suns. Celtics got him and won a title. Kawai wanted to go to LA. The Raptors got him and won a title. It would be worth the risk to some teams.
Watching Portland play in the Summer League. Scoot Henderson is gonna be that dude! He is getting anywhere on the floor he wants to. Sharpe has been terrific playing next to him.
They need to get Dame out of town yesterday!
Scoot and Sharpe look terrific together. Sharpe is attacking the rim and dropping three’s. Your backcourt is settled. I don’t care that it is Summer League.
The fans in Portland watching Scoot play right now will pack Lillard’s bags for him. Let the Portland fans enjoy the Scoot show, with him as the primary attraction from Day 1.
If the Bulls traded LaVine for Harden, I’m done as a Bulls fan…30 years down the drain.
Anyone else, idc, they’ve made plenty of dumb trades, but I just couldn’t stand to root for a malcontent.
Where is that trade proposal in the article.
You can relax. If anything it would have to be a multi team trade where the Bulls got picks and expiring deals.
LaVine is a stat-stuffer who has never made any team he’s been on much better. The NBA is the easiest league to make the playoffs in and LaVine has played in a grand total of four playoff games in his entire career. Nine seasons in the league and one playoff win. Plus he is on a massive contract yet is still always disgruntled. If losing that dude for James Harden (however much of a malcontent you think he is, he’s been in the playoffs in every one of his 14 seasons) would cause you to renounce your fandom, I question how much of a fan you are.
He’s only played for two teams. Minnesota and Chicago. It’s a team sport. How do you place blame on him? I don’t get the stat stuffing thing. He’sa prototypical SG/SF. He rebounds a bit and can dish. Most important he’s 47/48/83% for his career . Those are great numbers.
“How do you place blame on him?”
Because he has not made his teams or teammates better. Again, he’s only made the playoffs once in his nine year career and was bounced in the first round. I know it’s a team sport, but basketball is star-dominant and there’s only five per side on the court at a time. A star player can drag a bad team into the playoffs. LaVine can’t. Is his defense good? No. Is he a great passer? No. Rebounder? No. High basketball IQ? No.
I’m definitely not saying he’s trash. He’s a good player on bad teams. But he’s only a scorer and provides little else. The original dude said he could renounce his fandom if they had Harden instead of LaVine. I am saying they’d be a better team and probably a playoff team with Harden.
If the Bulls could have traded Zach LaVine for Salary fillers and the #3 pick to get Scoot Henderson ….. Then you should consider being done as a Bulls fan. The Bulls fan base would be absolutely ecstatic about another rebuild if they had just drafted Scoot.
Is Dame really worth 4 firsts AND 2 players?
No. That’s a big part of the real reason this is so difficult
No. Maybe prime Dame, but current Dame is a 3 firsts, a good player, and a salary dump kind of player. His defense and athleticism have degraded too much and there are injury concerns dragging down his value. Not to mention how much of a handcuff his max deal is on roster building.
If the Blazers got (for example) Jaquez, Jovic, and Lowry out of the deal plus picks, that’s a win for them. Maybe one other player. They’re setting a high price point so teams can negotiate down to a fair value without giving too much ground.
Laughable,thank God u aren’t running the blazers.
How so? The Blazers want frontcourt and wing prospects, to take back minimal salary, and first round picks with minimal or no protections. Three or four picks, two first round forward prospects, and a 1-year deal is about the ideal return they can expect for a disgruntled player who is making too much money for the new CBA. You should also realize that Lillard only fits a handful of teams, and most of they either aren’t trading for Lillard or don’t have the assets necessary to do so. Their market is quite limited. Aside from Miami, it’s Utah, Philly, and maybe the LA Clippers. Of those, only Utah can offer more than the Heat. The Celtics are out.
If you have points, back them up. Otherwise your opinion is nothing to me.
The blazers want value, not a broken down expiring contract Lowry,two completely unproven rookies and two late first round picks which is all the heat can cobble together. A pathetic offer in my opinion.
Have your opinion then. But without backing it up at all, which you haven’t, it’s just that. They’re in a rebuild. This isn’t a talent for talent swap, it’s a talent for potential swap. And I wasn’t talking about only the Heat? They can get more firsts by involving a third team in the deal. Which is the right move.
Riiiiiiiight……so Dame just had a career year last season but magically he’s no longer in his prime??? And which injury concerns are there regarding Dame??? He played through a core muscle injury for 4-5 seasons before finally getting the surgery prior to last season. He’s always had the defensive issues, but his athleticism was in fact better last season because he got the surgery done.
He’s missed chunks of every season due to injury, don’t obfuscate. Even after the surgery he missed a number of games early this year. The inactivity late in the season was partly just tanking, but not all of it. And his numbers are great, don’t get me wrong, but he’s 33 and won’t be getting younger with a history of injuries. His aerial game is reduced and he’s attacking the rim less, with more jumpers and less pressure from the close midrange that used to give opponents fits. It’s not a drastic decrease, but the trend is there.
Also, part of why his total numbers are so great this year is that his team is that he was carrying a garbage team and sat out a lot of the early season. His best games came in January and February, but not in the early going or the very end of the year. Shows a clear trend.
*every recent season, sorry. Missed a word.
Dame had his best statistical year last year and after surgery attacked the rim more not less. As for his injuries, he’s known as an Ironman for playing through injuries without missing a game his first 3 3/4 seasons. If the games matter he’ll play no matter what. The way he takes care of his body he realistically has 3-5 more solid seasons left. The only real knocks on Dame is his tunnel vision and lack of defensive ability but even that he improved under Billups. He should be a better teammate and help the youngsters but he wants to win now and doesn’t want to mentor youth. Good luck elsewhere Dame it is definitely time for a change.
Dame never played defense and he’s coming off his best season of his career offensively. As far as injuries go? You don’t need him to win every game, you need his help in the last 16 games you play in a season.
You have to get there first, and the Heat barely made the playoffs last year due to injury. The Clippers had the same problem in 2022. It’s not some huge insane knock, but it is something to keep an eye on. Same with his defense. He cannot help you on that end. Is it a huge issue? No. Is it still *an* issue teams can and will use to try and get leverage? Yes.
In terms of his actual performance, Lillard is 100% worth the Blazers’ ask. But it’s going to get knocked down by any detracting factor that potential buyers can come up with, because that’s how the trade market works. No team wants to give their competition everything they’re asking for.
Also, his rim-running numbers relative to the year he had his surgery are up, but they’re down relative to his career. That’s what I was saying. He bounced back about as well as you possibly can from that surgery, but there are slight negative trends you can notice. He doesn’t have the iron man, 120% at all times reputation that he had as a younger player. Still elite, but not a contender for the best PG in the league anymore.
Sorry but that is a horrible trade for Portland.
After what Rudy Gobert, and Donovan Mitchell received for trade value last off-season I don’t think its a stretch.
Lillard isn’t going to be traded soon imo. It’s likely that the Blazers are going to drag this out as long as they can to build up potential leverage, and to try and wear Dame down on his preferred destinations. They’ll likely get a deal done either right before or during training camp. Of course, they can’t really drag it out into the season, as no one is making the mistake Brooklyn did again. Nor is any team as desperate as Brooklyn was two seasons ago. And they can’t sit him like the Rockets did John Wall. The backlash would be wild. We aren’t going to see a deal this month in my opinion.
“And they can’t sit him like the Rockets did John Wall.”
Why would they even consider sitting him? If they can’t find a deal, they will just keep him. If he doesn’t play, it will be because he sat out, not because they didn’t play him.
*He* wants out. The Blazers want to keep him.
To prevent injury? To avoid him pulling a Harden and playing like crap to potentially tank his value? To improve their lottery odds? To give Scoot the primary PG duties? Four ideas right off the top of my head.
Why would the Blazers try and run him out there if they’re trying to get a top-flight return? Having him play doesn’t help them do that. And judging by the dialogue they’ve had so far and the way they’ve spent the last eight years surrounding him with a questionable supporting cast, it’s debatable that they *do* want to keep Lillard.
You’re operating under the assumption that they have to trade him. They don’t. He’s not going to sit out. He’s not going to give the Harden effort.
*Lillard* is asking for a trade. The Blazers are not. They were and are content to keep him. If they don’t end up trading him, there is a 0.0% chance that they bench him and give him the John Wall treatment. They will simply play him, I don’t see how this is even a discussion.
I don’t know how you think it’s “debatable” that the Blazers want to keep Lillard when they signed him to a Super Max and are paying him obscene amounts of money. This entire thing is Lillard’s creation, not the Blazers.
You’re making assumptions and touting them as fact. Lillard asked out, yes, but beyond that we have no idea of the actual situation. The shop talk and rumors that have been flying around paint neither Lillard nor the Blazers in a sterling light. The Blazers have chosen to rebuild, that much is obvious. But Lillard has said he doesn’t want to be part of a rebuild. If the Blazers decide not to trade him, that could change Lillard’s outlook on the situation as well, which could lead to any number of scenarios. This isn’t a one-path situation where the dominoes are lined up neatly.
POR’s parameters are reasonable for RFP purposes. It’s a step or two down from what Marks put out there for KD, which is appropriate, as DL is not KD. This framework shouldn’t frighten anyone away. I think MIA could likely get close enough to push it over the line, but it would take most, if not all, of their best trade assets.
If bulls are smart they would trade Lavine for Henderson, Simons, and Nurkic. Blazers could start Lillard, Lavine, Sharp, Grant. That would likely be po team
That would be if the Blazers could still convince Dame to stay.
Blazers aren’t giving up Henderson. I’m not sure the Blazers have enough to acquire Lavine without including him even if Dame would be interested in staying.
The Blazers might be willing to substitute Sharpe for Henderson in that deal.
LaVine is not worth anywhere near that much. The Blazers would not have traded the #2 pick straight up for LaVine even before they selected Henderson, not to mention also adding Simons and Nurkic.
Simons on his own may be worth more than LaVine. He scores almost as much (and at 23 years old is still developing) but his contract is almost half the price.
I’d say a fair trade between Miami and Portland that works financially should be:
Portland: D.Robinson, T.Herro, N.Jovic, and 2 1st Round picks.
Miami: Dame
Then, Portland, can basically have an auction for Herro, and get whatever assets they want for him.
I’m sure they wouldn’t have any issue acquiring some combination of a good young player and picks for Herro.
Then, you build around your new core, you have future assets, and if I’m Portland I’m happy to start over.
If you’re Miami, this allows you to keep K.Lowry to help run and be the leader of your second unit, you keep Jaquez a young player you’re high on that you can grow alongside Lowry on your second unit, and of course they’ll get the late game willing shot taker and scorer that is Lillard
I don’t think the Blazers should go for that unless they think they can get a top Center prospect or young Center for Herro or some combination of Herro+Nurkic. They already have a lot of mouths to feed in terms of young players who need development, particularly in the backcourt. Trying to juggle multiple trades and a ton of young guys seems like it would be a bigger headache that it would be worth. If they were going that route, it should be a 3-team deal where they give Herro to some other team for a Center. Maybe the Pistons are willing to give up one of their five Centers?
Name a young center they can get for Tyler Herro who is better than Nikola Jovic????
Jovic is a PF, so I’m not seeing your objection? I guess he can be a small-ball Center but he tends to get pushed around in the post. I could easily see Herro to the Mavs for Dereck Lively or something (obviously with salary filler).
He will ultimately play either, and I think will tilt to the 5 as the league continues to get smaller, and as he adds weight and muscle as he gets older.
Blazers won’t get good picks if they get 4 of them. The reality is they may have to keep Lillard for half or full year.
It would then put pressure on Dame and portland to find the best teams available. Most teams have their assets tied up.
Not a fan of how the heat and Dames agent have played this but Dame going to take the brunt of it.
They will be trading Lillard to Miami during the month of July. Portland knows that and Miami knows that.
If Portland trades Lillard to anywhere other than Miami ….. They will then become even less of a free agent destination than they are now. The Celtics are still trying to recover from trading Isaiah Thomas, instead of paying him. Anthony Davis was turning the screws on New Orleans to trade him, and his dad, Big Ant, quickly let everybody know that the Celtics didn’t need to waste their time.
All that is happening now is theater. Miami trying to hold Jovic and Jacquez, and Portland trying to extract them and everything else of value that can be sold or traded.
No star free agent has ever signed in Portland in the history of their franchise. They won’t be compelled to trade Dame for pennies on the basis that it might hurt relations with free agents, because free agents don’t sign there anyways. The name of the game for them is draft, develop, and make good trades. Giving away Dame just because he threw a temper tantrum is bad business for them–call his bluff. What’s he gonna do, retire and forego 200 mil? Doubt it.
The Miami trade is not “giving away” a 33-year old Dame Lillard.
Portland desires young frontcourt talent. There is not a better “available” young post than Nikola Jovic. He ain’t even really “available”, but will ultimately be forced to be available for the Lillard trade.
Honestly, Portland needs to get the deal done. Losing Lillard doesn’t hurt Portland. They WANT to rebuild. They do not want to be paying 35+ year old Lillard $60+ million in a couple of years. The fans are excited about Scoot and Sharpe. Jovic, some picks and getting Dame off the books is good enough. If you can get Miami to throw in Jacquez, great.
Scoot, Sharpe, Jovic and a bunch of picks is a great start on the rebuild. Trade Simons, who is best with ball in his hands, and Jerami Grant for even more assets. If I am Portland …. I want this done!
I am also not convinced their are better “available” young players who have the ability to shoot with range and accuracy the way that Jovic and Jacquez do. If Scoot and Sharpe are on the floor you need to optimize the other spots to provide spacing for them to operate. Find me two better young shooter’s out there for Portland to get???? And they play frontcourt positions when you already have young perimeter talent.
Davis turned the screws on New Orleans but LA had a haul to give back. Lillard has painted everyone into a corner demanding to be traded to a team that can‘t offer market value. And, by calling every team and saying he won’t play there happy, Portland can’t even determine the market. Lillard took the Max without a no-trade clause, he should honor his contract.
Miami’s best offer: Jaquez, Jovic, Herro, Martin or Robinson, 2 firsts, 2 swaps.
Maybe Miami can turn Herro/Robinson into a future first with a third team, but that does take valued players out of the trade.
Basically the package the Thunder got for PG. I dont think anyone will offer that again.
Nobody knew at the time that SGA would become an All NBA player. The pick package (all the team’s remaining unprotected FRPs, punctuated by unprotected FRP swaps) has become VERY common in deals for stars. Mitchell and KD being the two done this past season. There was a time when that would have been considered somewhere between reckless and insane.
I don’t necessarily think the Mitchell or KD deals are good comps. The KD deal because KD is a far superior player to Lillard, the Mitchell deal because he’s six years younger than Dame, not even in his prime yet.
Granted, there is precedent, but most of the other trades in that category were either overpays (Gobert), questionable even at the time (Mitchell, PG13, Westbrook to LA, Harden to Brooklyn) or for superior players (Durant to Phoenix, AD to LA, arguably Harden to Brooklyn as well). Teams might be gun-shy seeing how most of those have either not worked out or created short-term problems. Trading for a superstar, especially and aging or injury-prone one, is a huge risk.
I don’t disagree that they may not be great comps. But how many deals for stars are without a pick package that looks somewhat similiar? Truth is dealing away all those consecutive FRPs unprotected is reckless, whether it works out or not. But you won’t nix the comp based on relative quality arguments or past results. Jrue Holiday yielded 2 FRPs and 2 Swaps, all unprotected. I like Jrue, but he’s further from Dame than Dame is from KD. On the other hand, the Holiday trade did work out (championship).
Didn’t Minnesota beat the Paul George package with the Gobert trade? Minnesota gave up 4 1st round picks. 1 1st round pick swap as well as 2022 1st round pick Walker Kessler. + Beasley, Beverley and Vanderbilt.
The PG trade was something like five firsts and a swap plus Gallinari and SGA. So maybe? Depends on how much you like Walker Kessler.
SGA puts the Paul George deal over the top.
The MIN deal was another in the line. There, I think the MIN FO just forgot that it only applied to stars.
Portland you couldn’t build a contender. Sitting there with Simons as your SG. Trade Simons, Nurkic, Little and picks for a veteran SG SF and C. Or just trade Lillard to Miami. Who cares you already have a good rebuild going, he’s your franchise best player ever with Walton. Just respect his wishes since you couldn’t build a contender. They need a young SF PF and C. Trade Grant to Houston for Smith jr and a contract. Trade Nurkic and picks for Wiseman. Draft a SF in next year’s draft.
“It’s not fair to a team to allow them to engage in negotiations that could be futile in the end.” How many trade talks aren’t futile in the end? 5-10%? Also how is it fair to a team to have a player under contract for 4 years and try to sabotage the market and having them get far less value if they were able to talk to teams that weren’t scared away by his demands. Hypocrisy knows no bounds.
Would love for the Blazers to reverse course, commit to Dame and see Zach Lavine as his great complement. Trade Scoot and Simons for Lavine is a win for both teams.