NBA Trade Rumors: What a possible trade of Damian Lillard to the Miami Heat or Brooklyn Nets would look like this offseason.
The Portland Trail Blazers have some big decisions to make over the next couple of weeks. Heading into the 2023 NBA Draft, the Blazers must decide if they’re ready to lean into a rebuild or if they’re open and willing to give up everything for a shot to build a contender around Damian Lillard.
Lillard has made it clear that he either wants to see the Blazers go all-in this summer to build a contender around him or it’s probably time for him to ask for a trade. That’s something that the Blazers must figure out over the next week and a half heading into the NBA Draft.
What could a Damian Lillard trade look like?
Over the next couple of weeks, especially if the Blazers don’t end up adding a veteran star, this noise surrounding a Lillard trade is only going to grow louder and louder. So, what could the framework of a Lillard trade look like?
Let’s be abundantly clear. We are not close to Damian Lillard being traded. In fact, there’s not even a guarantee that he will ask for a trade away from the Blazers this offseason. This is simply a possibility that could arise this offseason. And if it does, we explore what this possible trade could look like with what will likely appear to be two of Lillard’s top destinations.
Damian Lillard to the Miami Heat
If Damian Lillard is traded to the Miami Heat, it’s going to take every ounce of cap gymnastics from Heat general manager Andy Elisburg. It would likely be complicated and there would have to be three or four teams involved to make all parties happy. But a framework would likely revolve around three first-round picks going to the Blazers.
The Heat would also have to throw in Tyler Herro or send him to a third team in exchange for an additional first-round pick to send to Portland. Another promising young player from the Heat, Nikola Jovic, could be sent to the Blazers to bolster the offer.
To add some spice to this deal, the Heat could send Caleb Martin, whose trade value has to be at an all-time high, to the Cleveland Cavaliers (a team in need of a 3-and-D contributor) in exchange to send Isaac Okoro (if the team is open to moving on from him) to the Blazers. Perhaps the Heat could send a second-round pick to the Cavaliers as well.
This is not an ideal move for the Blazers but there is at least a framework of a deal to work with. Again, this is under the assumption that the Blazers would want to send Lillard to a team where he wants to be.
Damian Lillard to the Brooklyn Nets
A potential Damian Lillard trade to the Brooklyn Nets is likely less complicated than one to the Miami Heat. That’s because when it comes to draft pick compensation, the Nets have a bit more to work with compared to Miami. And that’s one thing that could put them in the driver’s seat in any potential bidding war for Lillard.
This deal would likely have to start with Spencer Dinwiddie and Joe Harris, two expiring contracts. In order to make the money work for the Nets, the Blazers would have to be willing to absorb those players for one season (or flip them to another team). After that, the Nets have a flurry of first-round picks that they could send to Portland. In this deal, the Nets would send four of them to Portland in exchange for Lillard.
However, one thing to keep in mind, many of the tradable future first-round picks that the Blazers have don’t belong to them.
If the Blazers agree to such a deal, that would leave the Nets with a core five of Lillard, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson (assuming they can re-sign him in restricted free agency), Ben Simmons, and Nic Claxton.
I’m not sure if that would be a contender in the Eastern Conference but it would be one of the more intriguing teams heading into next season.
What dark horse teams could enter the Damian Lillard bidding war?
Even if the Portland Trail Blazers work to get Lillard to a landing spot of his preference, I can’t imagine that his list would just be two teams. If it wasn’t just the Heat and Nets, what other teams could seemingly jump into the bidding war for Lillard? Let’s take a quick look around the league that would not only make sense but also at teams that have the necessary assets to work a deal with Portland.
Out West, which has to be much less likely than a trade to the East, you have the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers that make sense. That said, neither team really has the necessary assets to realistically get a deal done. In the East, you have the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, and Toronto Raptors which would make sense to a certain extent.
However, we know Lillard doesn’t want to play for Boston and the Sixers don’t have the assets to get a deal done. The Knicks would be an odd fit with Jalen Brunson on the roster already and the Raptors might be pivoting toward a rebuild.
Perhaps it could truly come down to just Brooklyn and Miami.
What will end up happening with Damian Lillard this offseason?
At this point, it’s entirely impossible to predict what will happen with Damian Lillard this offseason. There’s a chance that he does end up asking for a trade but at this point, the overwhelming expectation has to be that he ends up riding it out with the Blazers as they attempt to build a contender around him.
The only way that I envision Lillard being traded this offseason is if the Blazers come together and realize they’re more equipped for a rebuild, with the young talent on their roster and the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, than a retooling. They then approach Lillard and let him know that they’re ready to trade him to a team that he wants to play with.
Short of that happening, the Blazers are going to try to upgrade their roster this offseason. And if they make a move, I have a hard time envisioning Lillard hitting the eject button on their effort.
Lillard clearly wants to win in Portland and would have to be forced out. At least that’s the way it seems at the moment. How will this all play out this offseason? At this point, it’s anyone’s guess. But if he does get traded, it’s clear that the Nets and Heat are at the front of the line.