What will be the lasting effects of the Damian Lillard trade saga?
Even if Lillard gets his desire and finds his way to the Miami Heat, there’s no question that there are going to be some huge future implications to this offseason. I’m not sure if this is the “tipping point” in the NBA Player Movement era, but this specific transaction will not be a great point in league history. The fact that Lillard has multiple years still on his contract and is able to handpick where he wants to be traded is not ideal for owners moving forward.
In a vacuum, there is much to figure out heading forward for the NBA. Sure, it’s a player’s league. But this is not great for the product long-term. Then again, this is often something that is discussed and reflected on almost after every superstar is traded. At the very least, it’s an interesting precedent for the next time a star decides he wants a trade.
Lillard gets to the Heat. The Blazers get their four future first-round draft picks to build around, and the Brooklyn Nets are awarded for their help with Tyler Herro. Nearly every team gets better (with the exception of the Blazers in the short term). The question is, though, at what cost?