3 Teams that could steal Damian Lillard from the Miami Heat (but probably won’t)

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets have everything they need to get a Lillard trade done — namely up to eight future first-round picks and some chunky contracts of guys who play a position of need for the Blazers.

Throwing three of those firsts (one in 2025 and two in 2027 are the soonest those picks could convey), a pair of wings (Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neal) who the Blazers could either plug in around Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons or flip for more picks, a young center in Day’Ron Sharpe and Spencer Dinwiddie’s expiring contract is probably enough to get a deal done.

But Portland would likely ask for Mikal Bridges and/or Nic Claxton (a non-starter) or Cam Johnson (who can’t be traded until Jan. 15). Brooklyn’s first-round pick Noah Clowney would be an interesting sticking point.

But is a team based around Lillard, Bridges, Johnson and Claxton good enough to win the East? Possibly. Bridges played well during his short stint in Brooklyn after the trade deadline and was a standout for Team USA over the summer. Johnson is a solid, young piece. Claxton might be one of the best five defensive centers in the NBA. Saying Ben Simmons is an X-factor is an understatement. But the Nets are young, unproven and, in this trade scenario, short on depth.

Plus, they might be holding out for something greater. News that Giannis Antetokounmpo could seek a trade after this season could lead plenty of teams with assets — including the Nets — to keep their powder dry in the event that Giannis becomes available. Trading two or three of their firsts could take the Nets out of the running for Giannis, who would demand a historic haul.

This doesn’t only apply to the Nets. Other teams mentioned as potential Lillard landing spots like the Knicks, Pelicans, Magic and Timberwolves, could choose the potential of Giannis over the pursuit of Lillard.

If anything, the Giannis news might have cleared the way for the Heat to get their guy.