NBA Trade Rumors: Damian Lillard to Heat smoke beginning to blow strong

NBA Trade Rumors: Damian Lillard to the Miami Heat smoke is beginning to blow strong for the first time since the original trade demand. 

When it was first reported that Damian Lillard had demanded a trade and that he wanted to be moved to the Miami Heat, it seemed like something that would get done fairly soon. However, it’s been nearly three months since that original trade demand, and with every passing day, a deal had seemed less and less likely.

Up until a few days ago.

Over the weekend, the smoke surrounding a possible Lillard trade began to blow. And into the start of this week, you can make the argument that it’s mighty strong.

A few days ago, on Friday afternoon, it was first reported that the Portland Trail Blazers had upped their efforts in trade talks centered around Lillard. Then over the weekend, it was reported by a Miami Heat-centric outlet that the Blazers and Heat had progressed on trade talks – or were at least talking with one another.

Most recently, Brian Windhorst noted that the Blazers want every last asset from the Heat. All of that is to suggest that the two sides have to be talking at this point.

The fact that the reports aren’t “the Blazers are waiting for a market to develop” or that “the Blazers have shown no willingness to trade Lillard” is certainly a step in the right direction. Perhaps most importantly, it suggests that there are at least talks taking place.

Time is running out for a Damian Lillard trade before the start of the season

We’re no longer in the dog days of August and with just a couple of weeks before the start of NBA Training Camps, both the Heat and Blazers are running out of time if their goal this offseason was to find a path toward a Lillard deal before the start of the season.

Is there a mystery team that can come in and throw a wrench in all this? Absolutely. However, there are doubts league-wide that such a team exists at the moment.

I have no knowledge other than what I can read like any other fan, but the Lillard to Miami smoke feels strong at the moment. The question is, will the smoke this time around lead to an actual fire or will it simmer as it did at the start of the offseason?