We’re now more than a month removed from Damian Lillard‘s trade request, which he submitted on July 1, and the Trail Blazers don’t appear to be much closer to moving the star guard today than they were at that time.
Lillard’s insistence that he only wants to play for the Heat has limited his market, as have the four years and $216MM left on his contract, which has reportedly made teams wary about giving up a significant package for him.
The Blazers are essentially stuck at an impasse, apparently “disinclined” to seriously engage with the Heat but also without any other viable options available to them for the time being, as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said during an NBA Today appearance on Tuesday (YouTube link).
“As I look across the league and have conversations with executives and agents, I can’t identify another team that is seriously making an offer for Dame Lillard at this point,” Windhorst said. “And so my belief is that the Heat can’t either.
“And so while people can look at what the Heat’s offer might be and scoff at it, if their offer is the only one on the table, it therefore is the best one on the table. And the fact that Portland isn’t going forward with anything is a verification of that, that they don’t have another offer. So, very low incentive for the Heat to improve their offer at this point, and no incentive really right now for Portland to take that offer. And we have a stare-down.”
As ESPN’s Windhorst and Adrian Wojnarowski have said, and as Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reiterates, Miami has no desire to bid against itself in an effort to bring Portland back to the negotiating table, but remains hopeful that the Blazers will be willing to reopen those conversations at some point in the coming weeks.
A veteran assistant coach who spoke to Jackson suggests that the Heat and Blazers both have some incentive to try to get something done before the regular season begins. If Miami is going to acquire Lillard, the assistant observes, the team would prefer to do it sooner rather than later in order to begin establishing chemistry with its new-look roster following the loss of guards Gabe Vincent and Max Strus. Portland, meanwhile, would presumably like to have a clean slate to begin the 2023/24 season rather than keeping a disgruntled star on the roster and remaining in a holding pattern.
The clearest way for the negotiations to move forward would be for a second suitor besides the Heat to emerge as a serious contender for Lillard. Even if the Blazers don’t ultimately make a deal with that non-Heat team, the presence of another bidder could help push Miami to increase its offer to the point that Portland would be more willing to seriously consider it.
So our Community Shootaround question for today is this: Which non-Heat team makes the most sense as a suitor for Lillard?
The team would presumably have to meet a few criteria.
It would need to have the young player(s) and/or draft picks necessary to put together a strong offer for Lillard, as well as a strong enough core to seriously contend for a title after giving up several assets to land the veteran guard.
It would need to be comfortable with the idea of paying Lillard $60MM+ per year in 2025/26 and ’26/27.
And it would need to be confident in its leaders and culture to sell the seven-time All-Star on embracing a new NBA home somewhere besides Miami.
What do you think? Which non-Heat team is the best bet – or the most logical candidate – to emerge as a contender for Lillard? Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts!
Why do Blazers have to do anything? Worst case they give Scooter some experience and angle for another lottery pick, if Dame really sits out. Also why set a precedent? Any urgency here is being driven by the media, not by basketball.
“And the fact that Portland isn’t going forward with anything is a verification of that, that they don’t have another offer.”
Even though this sentence includes “fact” and “verification ” it is pure speculation and, ultimately, irrelevant.
The point is, Dame isn’t disgruntled and it is in his best financial interests to keep a positive personna. And Portland is in no rush as they are now in rebuild mode. As time goes by, MIA will be pressured to do more and will figure something out once another team gets involved.
Yeah, unless prospects do like Steve Francis did with Vancouver and refuse to play for them, there’s literally no downside for them. And that’s such a remote chance it’s barely worth discussing.
76ers asked a top level player in return for Harden.
a top level player = a top 10 player?
Blazers need to increase the trade value by asking a package like this.
Siakam, OG and 4 Firsts
Sillivan, there is a reason why Harden is still with the Sixers, and it’s that they are asking for entirely too much. The Raps are not offering that much for Dame, and why would Dame want to go to a Raptors team that wouldn’t be competitive if they made that deal.
Think dude, seriously.
The jazz.
The jazz love Dame! They have the assets to bid and make the heat up their game to the max. Also a team that would hate to have to pay him for 4 years at super max rates and for his age.
Do the jazz really want a play maker?
Instant contenders! Not….
The heat are berated for chasing Dame for much of the same reasons. Dame is flat out expensive. Rather then being that boost he might be an anchor to a team.
Teams that could get Dame are chasing like the jazz or spurs. Nets don’t feel ready and we know he likes the nets too.
Blazers should be happy the heat have interest. Also may have to eat that contract for 4 years. Poor portland
This would work, but are the Jazz really contenders yet? Too risky for Dame, what’s the point?
Four team trade lillard to heat, Powell/hero to Philly, harden to clippers, portland gets picks expiring contracts, some young promising players such as jovic.
In the fewest number of words, the most interesting and viable suggestion yet. Portland’s “start over” mentality is enhanced most by a “some young promising players” and draft picks. Beyond that they can develop the younger players they already possess. This sort of reasoned logic in this drama filled, Chicken Little site is rare. No! It’s more than rare, it’s mature.
Why would Philly just want to make this a 3-team trade and skip the heat? Philly gets Dame…
Cuz Dame 1) doesn’t want to play for Philly 2) Dame doesn’t want to get bounced in the 2nd round 3) but if he ever does, Philly would need to unload more salary to accommodate / picks / players to get Dame but since that’s not a reality.
Lillard and Harden to MIA
Herro and Bam to PHI
Maxey and a million picks to POR
Oh wow…
Clueless
Boston makes the most sense. Brogdon, White, Williams and 4 1sts. Best package by far. Most likely hangups involve shipping Brogdon and White to other teams.
I think we all realize that the stories are pretty much interchangeable, but “Which non-Heat team makes the most sense as a suitor for Harden?” should probably be corrected in this one…
Toronto.
I think the idea of pairing Dame with Pascal Siakam has always made sense.
Much like the idea of pairing Scoot with Scottie or OG.
If the Raptors can land Lillard while sending out just one of OG/Scottie, then they should do it in a heartbeat.
Sending out OG, Boucher, and Thad Young works (plus picks). As does sending out Scottie, Boucher, Thad, Porter, & Flynn. Obviously a Scottie deal works with Trent if that fits better.
Let’s assume Portland prefers Scottie & maybe Dick.
Dame / Trent / OG / Siakam / Poeltl
bench: Schroeder, McDaniels, Achiuwa, Koloko
Weak bench, but this team makes sense to me as a title contender.
Plus it would be super fun to see Scoot & Scottie together in Portland.
This by far is a great package both ways. Scottie would be great for Blazers, and masi knows how to build around a star like Dame and win now. And Dame learns from making a one team DEMAND!
Sign Terrence Ross, a couple wings like Lamar Stevens (good athletic defender, combo forward), Stanley Johnson (3&D and former Raptor), Javonte Green (elite defensive guard-forward) and/or TJ Warren (who can create his own shot decently well), and that looks good. Maybe even Kelly Oubre would make sense as a sixth man type since he can create his own shots and hit them off-ball as well.
And Portland would love a guy like Scottie who can do it all on D and is still young and talented enough to improve his offense. Scoot, Sharpe, and Scottie would be an awesome young core to build around.
GSW should trade CP3 and picks for him.
To be clear, Portland is totally right to get as good of a return as they possibly can. It’s literally the FO’s job to do so. But this situation is largely of their own making. To alienate a guy like Lillard who would hold off major surgery to help the team and constantly talk about his love for the team and city, that’s on them and their abject refusal to build around the guy for seven years. It’s not just the crappy free agent signings or extensions, or the awful draft selections of guys like Swanigan (RIP) and Justin Jackson. They haven’t gone all-in for him. Not once since he became the franchise guy in 2015-2016 have they traded their top picks or impressive young guys, or tried to get players who fully compliment his skillset. Trading for Nurkic, who was already recognized as an injury risk when they acquired him, was as close as they ever got. And it’s not like Lillard is Harden or Simmons, who curdle like milk in the sun at the slightest criticism.
“Oh, but they’re a small-market franchise!” So what? The Nuggets are a small-market franchise, smaller than Portland as recently as 2021, and they just won a chip because they drafted smart, used some of their assets to get good players, and made savvy use of their midlevel and minimums to fill out the roster. The Bucks did likewise. The Cavs, Kings, Thunder, and Pacers all look well on their way to a competent buildup. The Suns have had an excellent run, and were also worth less than the Blazers in 2021. The Jazz contended for a few years with their homegrown guys, then blew things up early and already look like a potential play-in squad because of that savvy move. The Heat are barely worth more than the Blazers and have been a contender since 2020. Small market doesn’t mean small brain.
I’m not saying Lillard’s agent telling other teams to screw off was justified. Nor that he shouldn’t be traded for a big return. But I’m not about to blame Lillard for all of this.
There is no other team. Dame ain’t playing for anyone else. Celtics already tried. He said he ain’t playing. Why pay all that money for someone that won’t play?
That’s not how contracts work. If he doesn’t play, he doesn’t get paid.
Ben Simmons did.
Adam Silver literally had to send a memo to all teams stating Lillard will fulfill any and all of his contractual obligations and duties regardless of what team trades for him.
Dame’s manager has screwed the pooch throughout this whole process. He turned Dames trade request into a demand to go to Miami which was probably never the case. It should absolutely be noted that the Blazers have stained their reputation.
Dame was heralded as the most loyal guy in the league for years and constantly worked with the FO to build a winner in Portland. Blazers totally floundered in every off season over the last 3 seasons and sold CJ for scraps. Now they have fully committed to a rebuild and brain dead casual guys who catch the TNT games every other week want to make the player the villain again over a franchises short comings.
If you have a problem with his manager casually implying its Miami or nothing I understand that. What I don’t understand is the view that Dame needs to “honor” is contract because he makes a lot of money or that his asking for a trade makes him a snake. Such an outdated way of looking at the league and appreciating the players who make it what it is.
Magic.
Theyve stock piled tons of talent but miss that leader.
Anthony Black, Jett Howard, and picks.
Roll with Damd, Harris, F. Wagner, Banchero, Carter starting 5
You could be right though magic probably better off avoiding. No need for magic or thunder jumping into a mistake. May be a mistake … the reality is it could be good too .
The thunder and magic seem to be young and good with wins adding up here and there without a super. In fact, they are finding their own homegrown supers like sga and banchero.
Might want to avoid Dame. These two teams can get there with out paying such a high price for not much back
This is not going to end well for the Blazers, Heat or Dame.
I think the Blazers if they trade Dame to another team will be fine…
But Dame and the Heat… They’re screwed…
Brooklyn, Boston are best non heat suitors for Dame
Brooklyn makes no sense as they don’t have anything outside of Bridges to offer, and Bridges is all PDX would want…. Boston does make sense.. but they just signed the person they would trade (Brown) to an extension no one else in the NBA would have offered… PDX might be interested in it.. but I doubt it…. they seem to want young / cheap talent that isn’t a reality in 2023.
Brooklyn has a lot to offer. If they also take Nurkic they can offer Simmons, Dinwiddie, Claxton and Cam Thomas plus 3 firsts. Claxton is the type of center PDX needs, Dinwiddie is expiring, Thomas is a terrific scorer from the bench, the 3 picks. They only have to wait for Ben’s contract to burn out
Starting with Ben Simmons and saying “have a lot to offer” is an oxy moron brother lol…. if you think anyone in the NBA is taking Ben Simmons contract.. you’re high lol
I can’t imagine a team pursuing him after what his agent did (which I personally don’t agree with)…. that being said.. Dame will be a 36 year old PG making 60 mill a year in 3 years… that would kneecap almost all teams.. the Heat are in the niche spot of being in a championship window that might close by that third year… I can’t think of any other team in that position that could absorb his contract right now… unless some already contending team is willing to give up their younger equally important “star” which doesn’t seem logical.
I can think of a team that could easily absorb his contract now and later.
The utah Jazz!
The jazz won’t give up their core like heat or any other team with nba all star talent so it becomes two young guns and say 4 picks.
Do t like the jazz players then it’ll require a third or 4 team which is where the heat are at.
The jazz easily can trade for a super and be within the cap. No luxury tax for jazz.
I do like the idea of Dame with the jazz but it isn’t a must much like magic or thunder. Why give up your hard earned picks from that fleecing with gobert and spida. Just be patient.
Could the jazz? Yes
More like jazz or nets will be the third or 4th wheel that help the nets get Dame. Imo
1) That would just basically be undoing the Donovan Mitchell trade… Mitchell is 26, Dame is 33….
2) Dame doesn’t want to play there and may not report (according to his agent)
3) Who on the Jazz is more talented than Tyler Herro that could / would be included in the trade? The guy who’s been traded 3 times in 4 years and have only one good season Lauri?
4) See back to #2 lol
5) The Jazz aren’t a contender even with Dame on the roster
6) See back to #2 lol
The Blazers should. How about a big dump of all but Grant and Simmons and see what they plus any draft picks can bring.
I actually wouldn’t be shocked of Simons ends up in Miami with Dame… expanding the trade with Kyle Lowry being a trade and release (expiring contract)… clears the decks for PDX with a young core of possible all-star guards (herro and scoot)
POR’s parameters weren’t detailed, but they were clear enough. It all starts with the FRPs. They want 4 unprotected FRPs. So, teams holding those can most easily put together a competitive package, as there is always more nuances on the player side. Unfortunately it’s hard to see any mutual interest between most of those teams and Lillard.
An exception may be BKN (although I doubt they would be interested). They have 4 unprotected FRPs they can transfer (they could do up to 5 actually). They have the type of players that POR’s been looking for. I don’t see Bridges or Claxton being discussed, but there’s enough else on that roster that’s valued around the league to fill out a decent package.
TOR is a team to watch as well. They don’t control all their own picks, but they have some great trade assets on the roster, and they’re at an inflection point with their current roster. Different, but still similar, to the situation they were in before they traded for KL. It’s the NBA definition of a team being desperate.
None ……. there isn’t one.
4 team trade
PHI gets Dame, Batum, Norm Powell
LAC gets Harden, Dorian Finney Smith
BKN get Siakam, Nurkic, Jabari Walker
POR gets Ben Simmons, Marcus Morris, Thad Young, Otto Porter Jr, 4 FRP (2 PHI, 1 LAC, 1 BKN)
So the Blazers.. who don’t want long term money… somehow swallow Ben Simmons???? Really? lol