Trail Blazers ‘disinterested’ in working with Miami Heat on Damian Lillard trade

The Miami Heat are preparing a trade package for Damian Lillard that would include three or four first-round picks, and potentially more, but it may not be enough.

“The Heat have been working on a trade package of expiring deals, three to four first-round picks and one of the team’s younger players, with Tyler Herro going to a third team. The deal could potentially also involve second-rounders and pick swaps,” The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported.

Specifically, a Heat package could include three of their own first-round picks in 2024, 2028 and 2030 if they amend protections on a 2025 pick owed to Oklahoma City, plus one or two additional first-round picks via a third team that acquires Herro. The Heat can also include one second-round pick (2026 via the Lakers) and at least two first-round pick swaps in 2027 and 2029.

In this scenario, Miami would also trade one of its young players, either rookie wing Jaime Jaquez Jr. or second-year forward Nikola Jovic. The Heat would likely leave it up to the Portland Trail Blazers to choose which young player to include.

However, Portland has yet to engage in serious trade talks with the Heat — Lillard’s preferred destination since he requested a trade nearly a month ago.

According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, the Blazers have acted “disinterested” in trading Lillard to Miami. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday that Portland is willing to wait for a better deal from either the Heat or another team.

“Miami remains the team most motivated that has enough assets to eventually perhaps outbid the market,” Wojnarowksi said on ESPN’s NBA Today. “The problem is Portland looks at what Miami has, doesn’t love it, and keeps hoping something better is going to come along.”

But Lillard still aims to make his way to Miami. Despite a memo sent by the league last week warning Lillard and his agent Aaron Goodwin that public comments suggesting that Lillard would not play if traded to another team could be subject to disciplinary action, Lillard remains steadfast in his preference to play for the Heat.

“There remains no shift in Lillard’s mindset and goal of playing for the Miami Heat,” Charania reported.

My thoughts: That’s a palatable deal for a 33-year-old point guard who will be owed upwards of $60 million per season on the back end of his four-year deal. I’m not saying Portland should emphatically accept it, but it’s a starting pint.

The Trail Blazers don’t want Herro because of how many guards are already on the roster, but they should be working with the Heat — the only motivated partner — to find a third team to facilitate a deal that gives them something they want, whether it be more picks or a good, young player at a position of need.

It makes no sense that the Blazers have not engaged with the Heat. Cronin said he would try to do right by Lillard after Lillard made his request, but he hasn’t tried at all. He’s been stubborn, and that’s why this situation continues to drag on.