NBA Trade Rumors: Which non-Heat teams would be interested in Damian Lillard?

Contenders where Damian Lillard doesn’t fit

At the very least, even if the Blazers don’t want to settle for an only-Miami market for Damian Lillard, they should try to send him to a championship contender. That’s only fair. But, still, there are a few contenders where Lillard doesn’t fit – both financially and build-wise. Those teams are the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and Dallas Mavericks.

The Bucks have a loaded roster already and it’s hard to see them finding a way to trade for Lillard. The Celtics just signed Jaylen Brown to a supermax extension and they would have a very hard time making it work financially since they can’t trade him for a season. The Nuggets just won the championship and have Jamal Murray. The Grizzlies have Ja Morant. The Kings have De’Aaron Fox. The Suns are loaded and can’t do it. The Warriors have Stephen Curry and the Mavs have Kyrie Irving.

That eliminates a strong group of contenders that would make life a lot easier for the Blazers as they attempt to find the right Lillard deal. After all that, it leaves the Blazers with five potential teams that would be interested in Lillard. But, it’s not that simple.