Damian Lillard trade news: Trail Blazers send ULTIMATUM to Heat as Portland KEEPS HOLD of superstar
The Blazers are currently waiting for the Miami Heat to present a satisfactory offer in exchange for Damian Lillard.
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Damian Lillard (Credits: Soobum Im/Getty Images)
After showcasing unwavering loyalty during his impressive 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard has now expressed his desire to be traded. However, the trade process has become challenging due to Lillard’s specific condition of being traded exclusively to the Miami Heat. This condition has posed a significant hurdle for the Blazers’ front office, as they have yet to receive a satisfactory offer from the Heat for Lillard.
The Blazers explored trade options beyond the Miami Heat for Damian Lillard. However, Lillard and his team made it clear that any team trading for him would be acquiring an unhappy player. The complexity stems from Lillard’s contract, which adds to the drama surrounding the situation. The Miami Heat, eager to pair Lillard with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, have been unable to present a suitable offer and have received an ultimatum to improve their proposal.
As per NBA Insider Shams Charania, the Blazers have asked the Miami Heat to send them their best offer as they look ahead to get the maximum trade value for Lillard. Shams, talking about the situation, said, “It’s been stagnant as far as a process there… What I am told Portland has told Miami is this: Make your best offer to us. The sides have spoken recently but nothing significant has come to it.”
Further, talking about the potential packages Miami can bring to the table in exchange for Damian, he added, “When you look at potential packages from Miami to Portland, you look at expiring contracts. Perhaps a young player like Nikola Jovic, three to four first-round picks where Tyler Herro would be going to a third team.”
According to Shams, Damian Lillard’s contract is adding complexity to the trade process. Additionally, the Portland Trail Blazers have expressed little interest in a trade package centered around Tyler Herro, instead seeking a promising young star in return and future assets. The Blazers are not inclined towards a complete rebuild and aim to maintain their pursuit of a championship by building around their existing young core.
The Blazers’ front office has adopted a determined stance in pursuit of a trade for Lillard. They have directly requested the Heat to present their most compelling offer for consideration. If the Heat fails to assemble a suitable package in this attempt, the Blazers are open to exploring alternative options for a potential trade.
Related: Jimmy Butler and Heat will become WORSE with Damian Lillard, warns Paul Pierce
Blazers willing to wait months to trade Damian Lillard in exchange for the best offer
Portland Trail Blazers General Manager, Joe Cronin, is approaching the trade process with patience and a focus on finding a deal that will benefit the team’s future. With the imminent departure of Damian Lillard, widely regarded as the greatest player in Blazers’ history, Cronin is committed to securing a trade that will enhance the team’s prospects and help them improve.
Talking about the entire process last week, Joe said, “I think what I’ve learned more than anything is patience is critical. Don’t be reactive. Don’t jump at things just to seemingly solve a problem… So I think that’s how my approach has been with this and will be with this. We’re going to be patient; we’re going to do what’s best for our team. We’re going to see how this lands. And if it takes months, it takes months.”
The Blazers are trying to ship Lillard to his desired destination. But they aren’t going to agree to any transaction without a satisfying offer. And there’s no possible way for Miami Heat to single-handedly offer them one such deal while keeping their superstar duo alive. It is likely that a multi-team trade scenario would need to be explored. Additionally, the Blazers have the option of waiting for another superstar to become available in the summer market, giving them further flexibility in their trade negotiations.
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Ritik Malik
(1743 Articles Published)