Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN gets the sense that the Trail Blazers‘ trade talks regarding Damian Lillard have picked up over the past couple weeks, he said on NBA Today (YouTube link).
Talks had largely been dormant for over a month, but training camp is just a few weeks away, so teams are trying to complete rosters before the season begins in late October.
“I think Portland, what they’ve been trying to do is see how they can put together multi-team deals that would get them the assets that they would want — young players, draft picks,” Wojnarowski said. “There might be a team that their best asset is a veteran player that doesn’t interest the Blazers, but there’s a third team who might want to take on that veteran and then send, whether it’s a young player or picks, in part, to Portland.
“So I think they’ve been in communication with a lot of teams trying to find a structure of a deal. … We’ll see how much traction they can get between now and the start of camp.”
People within the Blazers and around the league expect that Lillard will report to camp if a trade hasn’t occurred, according to Wojnarowski, who says that scenario would be “uncomfortable” and “may be unpleasant, but it won’t be unprofessional.” Having Lillard away from the team while Portland searches for a deal isn’t an option under the new player participation policy, Woj notes.
Here’s more on the Blazers:
- At ESPN.com (Insider link), Tim Bontemps, Kevin Pelton, Andre Snellings and Andrew Lopez came up with hypothetical Lillard trades that were evaluated by their colleague Bobby Marks, a former assistant GM with the Nets. Lillard hopes to be traded to the Heat. Bontemps proposes a straight-up swap that sends Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic to Miami in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, Jaime Jaquez, Nikola Jovic, 2027 and 2029 first-round picks, and 2028 and 2030 first-round swaps. The other proposals involve the Sixers, Clippers, Pelicans and Raptors.
- The Rip City Remix — Portland’s new NBA G League affiliate — have acquired a 2024 NBAGL first-rounder from the Salt Lake City Stars (Twitter link). The Remix sent the Jazz‘s affiliate the returning player rights to Michael Devoe. Devoe, who played college ball at Georgia Tech, signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Clippers last fall, but was waived before the season started. He spent 2022/23 with their G League affiliate, the Ontario Clippers.
- In case you missed it, commissioner Adam Silver recently said the NBA won’t do anything to force the sale of the Trail Blazers. You can find more details here.
Portland wants Adebayo… -_-
They’d love him, who wouldn’t? I think they’re realistic though, they know there’s no way Miami would give up Bam. That’s beside the fact that Bam is one of the reasons Dame wants to go there.
As me late pa used to say to me when I told him I wanted something … People in hell want ice water …
Miami wants Dame
Portland trades Lillard to Miami. Houston trades Porter and one 2nd to Miami. Miami trades Hero to Houston and trades Lowry, Jovic, Jaime Jaquez, Orlando Robinson, future considerations, and 4 picks to Portland. Anybody?
The problem with a third team, or any other possible deal at this point, is usually these deals require a high, not so favorable but expiring or close to expiring contract to match Dame salary. But there really aren’t many in the league right now. The only ones I can think of off the top of my head. are Hayward, CP, Harris, Lebron, Harden and Lowry. Maybe the Hornets get involved, but don’t really see how.
Portland is just hurting themselves, because by waiting, they are exposing the fact that there aren’t other options out there giving the Heat leverage. So while the Heat are willing to give up Herro, eventually they may downgrade their offer to just Lowry, Duncan and picks. Their only option is either stick the Lillard or get some Heat picks.
Portland is actually fine, their season record means nothing this year and the Miami package is what it is(not enough) if as you say Miami we’re to lessen the offer certainly other teams would step up, 2 picks and Robinson/Lowry is a package every single team in the league could beat and I mean think about Utah who could beat that package and still have enough assets to trade for another star, your scenario is good for Miami but not logical when really thought out
No team is going to give up young players and picks when it’s publicly known Dame wants to be in Miami. Nobody wants to deal with the headache each off season the Blazers are currently dealing with, disgruntled star player.
Trade him to Utah he does the same thing next off season. And with 1 few years on his contract Utah doesn’t get a return of what they gave up.
Players aren’t idiots. Agents and players have seen the Blazers dismantle teams around Dame and actively refuse to put together a competitive roster to try and compete for a championship going on 5 years now.
Blazers don’t have as much leverage as you think in trade scenarios and wont be offered nearly as much as you think by non miami teams. Blazers are actively hurting themselves to the point they’ll have to severely overpay to attract quality players to the franchise or keep young budding stars.
Why tf would Utah want Dame? especially after they got rid of Mitchell? That makes no sense. This is what I’m talking about, people keep saying there are other moves but anything y’all come up with makes no sense.
And how is Portland fine? How does it help them to continue to keep having another mediocre season? Again, that makes no sense.
Utah liked Spida and would like Dame. The issue isn’t much more then timing ⏱
Utah has depth and some budding star talent.
The jazz would rather hold their picks and develop younger talent.
Dame is much older and way too much of the team cap for any team really to offer massive load of picks.
Heat stupid to go for it at this point.
A Bulls 3-way center around Lavine and Herro would make sense, especially if Miami gives picks to Portland and they in turn take protection off the pick they owe Chicago.
Bulls would now have a legit 3 point shooter for DeRozan to kick out to, out from under Lavine’s contract. Portland gets a youngish shooting star for Scoot to feed, and a lot of future picks to help build around Lavine/Scoot/Grant.
Miami gets to try a last gasp ‘Big3’.
I don’t see why Portland would want Lavine of Herro who is older and almost twice the money.
Herro and Jovic are great players, Kyle’s gonna retire anyways… problem is in those picks, they are way too late in the 1st.
Actually the picks are where I think the Blazers are underestimating, depending on the picks. Because the Heat have always been an organization that focuses on the postseason and quick turnarounds and picks are based on the regular season. Meaning even though Miami was in the finals, they were in 7th place in the East last year, and that’s where the picks are based.
So are you going to get a lottery pick from the Heat? No. But it’s rare they will be a first place regular season team. Fact is, only a contender is going to want Dame, so out of all contenders, Heat picks are most likely going to be better than Anyone else.