Where should Dame Lillard Go?
Damian Lillard, has been the subject of rumors since the beginning of the his NBA career, last week he has finally asked the Portland Trail Blazers for a trade. One of the NBA’s top guards is anticipated to find a new team in the upcoming days or weeks after years of rumors and ping pong balls, and he apparently has his heart set on the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat.
This has been anticipated for a while. Several teams, including the Heat, Nets and Clippers have all already made contact with Lillard. According to reports, the Blazers are searching for trades where they may get Lillard in exchange for young players and draft picks. The market might not be as robust as they’d assume given that many teams have already spent so much money on draft capital.
The Miami Heat
Photo courtesy of NBA Analysis Network
Following the Heat’s decision to pass up the change to fully commit to Bradley Beal, who was traded to the Suns, Jimmy Butler has been actively courting Lillard. The Big Three of Adebayo, Butler, and Lillard would guide a team with a wealth of experience under the direction of Erik Spolstra, one of the top head coaches in the NBA. Lillard is the final component that the Heat are lacking, a perimeter shooter who can enable their half court offense reach new heights.
The Heat would be a serious Finals contender with Lillard, though there’s no guarantee they’d even be the favorites given how the rest of the conference may advance.
The Brooklyn Nets
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Lillard’s fear of being dealt with might be put to rest if the Nets match Miami’s best offer while still holding onto valuable assets. Although the Nets are in a far better position to lure Portland, Lillard may not be as highly valued by them. Of course, Mikal Bridges is off limits. Brooklyn would have made the deal in order to pair him with Dame.
Compared to Miami’s two first-round picks, Brooklyn can offer seven. The Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and Philadelphia 76ers have a tempting pool of picks in 2027, 2028, and 2029. Spencer Dinwiddie, Royce O’Neale, Patty Mills, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Ben Simmons are among the many players with salary-matching contracts that they have.
Philadelphia 76ers
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The real concern here is Lillard’s level of enthusiasm for working with Joel Embiid, the current MVP. His focus is currently Miami. Players have been known to modify their thoughts after being traded. Philadelphia will probably have the opportunity to court Lillard. With Harden leaving, they can produce the resources to track him down.
San Antonio Spurs
Photo courtesy of the Wenatchee World.
The Spurs haven’t even seen Wembanyama play yet; are they prepared to fully commit at this moment? Don’t forget that if he performs up to expectations, he will be able to enlist just about anyone to join him as a co-star. A younger player might join the Spurs. If they preferred, they may choose to hire someone from a different position. Years of possibilities elsewhere would be lost if the Spurs signed Lillard at this time.
In Conclusion: Damian Lillard brings a multitude of qualities to the table in a potential trade, making him an extremely valuable asset for any team. His combination of scoring ability, leadership, and clutch performance make him a game-changer for any team looking to bolster their chances of winning a championship.