Reports: Damian Lillard Linked to Miami Heat After Bucks Waiver

One of the most calculated and well-executed trades by the Milwaukee Bucks is officially a waste with Damian Lillard waived.

Reports: Damian Lillard Linked to Miami Heat After Bucks Waiver

Damian Lillard is a free agent now (FS Image)

The Milwaukee Bucks have had an eventful first 24 hours of the free agency and trade deadline. The team is now being drastically reset as it is now shorn of all of its core pieces from the championship team. Brook Lopez has signed with the LA Clippers on a two-year deal as a free agent. Damian Lillard, who was added in exchange for Jrue Holiday 21 months ago, is now a free agent after clearing waivers.

Damian Lillard was expected to bring a lot of offense and fanfare to the Milwaukee Bucks after his trade. Many considered Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard to be the best pairing in the league at the time it happened. However, due to some calamitous injuries in the playoffs both years, the duo never got it on in the postseason. The trade will now ruefully be looked at as one of the riskier NBA bets not to pay off.

Dame will take a minimum of eight or nine months to recover from his Achilles tear that almost certainly puts an end to his prime years. The perennial All-Star finishes his Miami tenure with no playoff series wins to his name after years of not contending with the Trail Blazers. At this point, there are very few ways for him to be a central cog on a championship team. Yet, it seems that his name carries weight in free agency.

The Miami Heat, who pursued him with aplomb in the summer of 2023 before the Bucks beat them out, have seemingly thrown their hats into the ring. AP writer Tim Reynolds reports that the team is readying a fitting salary for Damian Lillard.

The Heat — this is no surprise — are expected to have interest in Damian Lillard, who very surprisingly now holds a lot of cards he didn’t expect to hold. Also expected to have interest: well, lots of teams. It’s up to Dame, and it’s on his timetable because there is no rush whatsoever.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was reportedly very upset by how Damian Lillard was waived by the Bucks

Loyalty was one of the defining traits of Lillard during his time in Portland. He stuck by the team in years when they clearly had no shot at contending for an NBA title. He wasted his best years on a team without a vision for challenging in the playoffs because of his insistence on loyalty. His superstar former Bucks teammate and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is also cut from the same cloth in these matters.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard

The Greek Freak reportedly voiced his displeasure at the manner in which Damian Lillard was cut lose by the front office. According to him, the decision to waive him at a time when he’s in recovery was a cold-hearted move. Insider Chris Haynes suggested that the Greek Freak has added this to a list of grievances he’s had with the Bucks front office in the years since they won the NBA championship against the Suns.

Giannis has been linked to a move away from Wisconsin after 12 seasons of competing in the NBA’s smallest market. He will be the hottest trade target in recent NBA memory if he does make this decision. Teams will line up to pay princely compensations to the Bucks for the services of the 6’11” forward. He is still in the middle of his prime and can carry a team on both ends of the floor and make them contenders.

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