Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard requested a trade on July 1. Rumors had been swirling for months and teams are gearing up packages. It may not matter as Lillard has made it clear he wants to be sent to the Miami Heat to play with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
The Heat only have two first-round picks to offer in a trade and are unlikely to have the best package for the star. Will Portland honor their franchise GOAT’s request and send him to Miami? Do they accept the best offer? Expect the front office to reward Dame’s loyalty by sending him where he wants to go.
What can the Heat offer? Here are three packages ranked from worst to best for the Portland Trail Blazers when trading away Dame.
Ranking Damian Lillard trade packages for Portland Trail Blazers
3. Heat’s preferred but Blazers should hold out for more
Portland wants young players and draft picks in return for Damian Lillard. They just drafted Scoot Henderson with the number three overall pick, and they have some intriguing young talent. Expect Portland to target Tyler Herro and the two first-round draft picks that Miami has available.
Duncan Robinson gets thrown in as a salary-matcher, and the Heat may also add Jamie Jaquez Jr., who they just selected in the first round. This gives Portland a young and talented 20-point per-game scorer, two future draft picks, and a promising talent to try to build out their roster in the post-Dame era.
The Portland Trail Blazers will certainly ask for more here, but can they get it? Here is a more likely offer from both sides.
2. Blazers get off Nurkic’s contract and clear way to build up their roster
Portland should be focused on maximizing their return for Damian Lillard. The Heat only have two first-round draft picks to trade, but they can compensate the Blazers in other ways. Miami will likely have to give up one of their top three scorers, but Portland should try to fold Jusuf Nurkic’s undesirable contract into this deal to maximize the value.
The Heat want to part with Kyle Lowry, who is on an expiring contract, and they have no choice but to meet Portland’s asking price. Pat Riley is always searching for the next star talent, and Damian Lillard is a perennial All-NBA candidate. It does not get better than this for Miami, especially with just two first-round draft picks to trade.
The Portland Trail Blazers just signed Jerami Grant to a massive contract, and they would be geared up here to stay relevant. Scoot Henderson has superstar potential. Pair him with Grant, Anfernee Simons, Tyler Herro, and Caleb Martin to give the Blazers a lot of pieces. Losing your superstar is never easy, but Portland would be in a solid position with room to improve quickly.
The Trail Blazers should try to convince the Miami Heat to give up Bam Adebayo in the deal, but it is unlikely to happen.
1. Blazers get Bam for Dame
This would be Portland’s dream scenario if they have to trade Damian Lillard to the Miami Heat. They have coveted Bam Adebayo for years and now is their only chance to pry him away from South Beach. The Heat may instantly reject this offer, but it is worth putting on the table.
This gives the Trail Blazers an immediate superstar replacement and one that fits better with their roster. Miami needs a point guard and the Blazers need a center upgrade. This could be a win-win for both sides, but the Heat have shown zero interest in trading Bam.
Package two is the most likely option, but the Portland Trail Blazers should try everything before trading Damian Lillard. It is not often that any franchise gets a superstar player. Lillard is one, and the Blazers have to maximize the return they get for him. That only happens if they turn over every stone.
Will the Portland Trail Blazers trade Damian Lillard? Does he end up on the Miami Heat next to Jimmy Butler? Can a surprise team swoop in and secure his services? Lillard wants to win a ring, but where will he get his next chance? This will be fascinating to watch unfold, so please stay tuned for all the latest.
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