NBA Trade Rumors: Could a surprise dark horse suitor emerge for Damian Lillard? We explore that possibility.
The start of NBA Training Camps is roughly three weeks away and there’s no indication that the Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers have made any progress on a Damian Lillard trade. That could open the door for another dark horse team jumping into the Lillard bidding war – in fact, the Blazers might be secretly hoping for that.
The further this saga drags toward the start of the season, I firmly believe there becomes a better and better chance of that happening. In anticipation of that possibility, we’ll begin to discuss a few surprise dark horse suitors that could begin to emerge for Lillard as non-Heat options.
We’ll begin with a few honorable mentions that had to be discussed due to the asset inventory that they currently have. However, in the end, I ultimately don’t believe any of the honorable mentions will emerge as serious threats for Lillard due to the fact that they aren’t close to competing for a title. I don’t envision the Blazers, despite all their posturing, trading Lillard to a non-contender.
Predicting the most likely potential dark horse suitors for Damian Lillard
Honorable mentions
Utah Jazz – The Utah Jazz certainly have the trade assets that it would take to acquire Lillard but I have a hard time envisioning them being willing to go all-in for a 33-year-old star that doesn’t fit with the rest of the team’s timeline. It’s not a move that makes sense for any party, other than the Blazers, involved.
San Antonio Spurs – Similarly to the Jazz, the San Antonio Spurs are another team that theoretically has the draft capital to pull off a move for Lillard. But acquiring Lillard to pair next to Victor Wembanyama before he’s even played an official minute in the NBA seems more like an NBA 2K move than a real-life possibility.
Oklahoma City Thunder – In fairness, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the one team that would make sense on some level. They have the assets to pull off the move but the big question is whether a core of Lillard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Chet Holmgren/Josh Giddey (whichever player wouldn’t be included in the deal) would be good enough to compete for a championship in the next 2-3 seasons (Lillard’s championship window).
I’d lean no, so that’s why I can’t consider the Thunder that much of a dark horse threat. Sam Presti is one of the best general managers in the league and I can’t imagine him making such a rash, and probably foolish, move.
Let’s get to the real potential dark horse suitors for Lillard.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an interesting team to keep an eye on when it comes to the Damian Lillard saga, especially if it lingers closer to the NBA Trade Deadline. There’s one big reason why; while the Wolves may not have the draft capital that the Portland Trail Blazers would likely be looking for in a return for Lillard, they do have one intriguing player who could be of interest to a rebuilding team – Karl-Anthony Towns.
At this point, with the way things have developed recently in Minnesota, it would almost be surprising if KAT was not traded in the next 1-2 seasons. He looks like a player who would greatly benefit from a change of scenery and the Wolves are clear in win-now mode (which would check a potential box for Lillard).
Would the Blazers be open to a package centered around KAT, another young player, and less draft capital? It’s no foregone conclusion but you’d have to think that the Blazers would at the very least consider it – especially if they’re not completely sold on the Heat’s collection of draft picks that they could offer Portland.
7. New York Knicks
It would be foolish to not entertain the idea that the New York Knicks would get to a point if the Damian Lillard saga continues to linger, where they would make a trade offer. At the very least, have some sort of a conversation internally. With a plethora of tradable future first-round picks and an intriguing crop of young players, the Knicks could theoretically outbid almost every team that is in the market for Lillard. If there’s one reason why the Knicks probably aren’t all-in on the idea of trading for Lillard, it’s because of the potential tough fit next to Jalen Brunson in the backcourt.
If, for one reason or another, Brunson wasn’t in New York, I think this decision would be so much easier. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t throw away the idea completely. Especially if they feel they can enter last minute to “steal” Liard away from a team like the Heat.
The Knicks are probably lurking with some level of interest but, at least for now, aren’t in a position where they’re comfortable making an all-in move for Lillard. Perhaps that’s because they’re waiting for another superstar to ask for out?
6. Toronto Raptors
With less than a month remaining before the start of NBA Training Camp, I still have no idea what the plan is for the Toronto Raptors. Their roster remains unsettled with both players that resemble a rebuild and a retooling. If they are rebuilding, there’s really no reason to keep Pascal Siakam on the roster. Nevertheless, a month before the start of the season, that remains the case. If they’re retooling, losing Fred VanVleet for nothing was a huge misstep.
That said, it’s hard to deny that the Raptors could very well be a Damian Lillard move away from being a contender in the Eastern Conference. A core of Lillard, Siakam, and OG Anunoby could be one of the better teams in the East this season. If Toronto gets to a point where they’re willing to make that happen, they could immediately become a favorite to land Lillard.
And, at that point, you can’t help but wonder if Lillard would be open to such a move. That trio in Toronto may not be the best one in the East on paper but it would be an intriguing combination of talents.
5. Brooklyn Nets
At one point before Damian Lillard officially made his trade demand to the Miami Heat, there was much speculation pointing at the Brooklyn Nets being the likely landing spot for him. Lillard has admitted he is good friends with Mikal Bridges and he openly said he wouldn’t mind paying for the Nets. Not to mention Brooklyn has a myriad of intriguing assets that the Blazers would be open to accepting in any deal for Lillard.
However, after it became apparent that Lillard wanted to be traded to the Heat only, the idea of the All-Star guard teaming up with Bridges in Brooklyn quickly diminished. However, with Miami not making any traction on such a deal, if there’s any team that should be willing to take the gamble on a move for Lillard, it’s the Nets.
Would Lillard truly be unhappy to play with one of his good friends? I’d take that gamble if I were the Nets. If Brooklyn truly believes that Bridges is the real deal, going all-in for Lillard makes sense. Then again, if the Nets don’t believe the move solely for Lillard makes them a contender, then this whole premise goes up in flames.
4. New Orleans Pelicans
As the biggest dark horse in the Western Conference, the New Orleans Pelicans represent one of the most intriguing potential landing spots for Damian Lillard. In a vacuum, the Pelicans make a lot of sense for Lillard. They have a strong supporting cast, a collection of young players that would be attractive for the Portland Trail Blazers, and enough draft capital to help sweeten a deal. If the Pelicans could swing a deal and figure out a way to retain both Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, there could be something there for Lillard.
A trio of Lillard, Ingram, and Zion (if they could remain healthy) would be good enough to be the third or fourth-best team in the conference. That is at least a puncher’s chance to win the West and compete for a title. Isn’t that all Lillard wants at this point in his career?
I’m not saying that the Pelicans should be Lillard’s preferred destination but they should theoretically be an outside option if Portland and Miami aren’t able to come to some sort of agreement.
3. Boston Celtics
If there’s one team that is clearly all-in on this season, it’s the Boston Celtics. And while it would be increasingly difficult to manage the salary cap with such a move, especially after paying Jaylen Brown, you can’t help but love the potential trio that Lillard, Brown, and Jayson Tatum would create in Boston if they were able to pull off such a move. Of course, the big question is if the Celtics have a young player good enough to build a package around.
Boston has the draft capital to add to a package but they truly lack a possible centerpiece player. In a vacuum, that piece would’ve been Brown. But he’s clearly not going to be traded and he couldn’t, per the CBA, even if Boston wanted to.
But if the Celtics could find a way to get a deal done without moving Brown or Tatum, I’m sure they’d at least explore the possibility or feasibility. It’s something to keep in mind if Portland remains sold on holding out on a potential deal of Lillard.
The Celtics are already considering one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference but the addition of Lillard could make them an overwhelming one.
2. Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks may not be a team that immediately comes to mind when thinking about Damian Lillard landing spots but when you think of it, it does make some sense. But there is a pretense or a qualifier toward it being a possibility – the Bucks have to be willing to trade Jrue Holiday to a third team in order to get more assets to trade to Portland. If Milwaukee is unwilling to do so, this is not a deal that can come to fruition. If they are, a trio of Lillard, Khris Middleton, and Giannis Antetokounmpo would be incredibly intriguing.
If Milwaukee truly wants to sell Giannis on them being all-in on helping him win an NBA Title, there may not be a better path. At the same time, there are barriers to reaching a deal. Not only would the Bucks have to appease Portland but they’d also have to sell both Giannis and Lillard on each other.
On the surface, the Bucks may not seem like a logical potential landing spot for Lillard. However, there are a few reasons why it could make some sense. If the Lillard saga gets wacky, maybe the Bucks could add another layer to it.
1. Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76es shouldn’t be counted out just yet. Even with their unresolved situation with James Harden, they could emerge as a dark horse threat to pry Damian Lillard away from the Miami Heat. If the Portland Trail Blazers would have any interest in Tyrese Maxey, this is where it gets interesting. They don’t have the multiple first-round picks that the Blazers would want but a potential all-star player in Maxey could help make up for that.
Even if the Blazers aren’t interested in Maxey, due to their logjam in the backcourt, Philly could theoretically trade Maxey to a third team that may be interested in him to get added assets to send Portland’s way to get a deal done.
If the Sixers would want to go down that path, I have a hard time believing that Lillard wouldn’t be open to at least giving the Sixers a thought. Joel Embiid is playing at an MVP level right now and Lillard may be a player that helps take this team over the top.
The next couple of weeks in the Lillard saga should be quite telling. Will he find his way to the Heat? Will any team step up to pry him away?