Damian Lillard may become the latest superstar to take his talents to South Beach.
After an NBA Draft in which the Trail Blazers essentially drafted Lillard’s successor at point guard in Scoot Henderson — rather than trading the pick for an established All-Star and free agency looming — Lillard has “serious interest” in joining the Heat, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
“Lillard indeed has serious interest in joining the Heat, who would surely love to pair him with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo,” Amick said. “If it reaches this point — and there’s still an ‘if’ here considering all the times Lillard chose not to ask out before — Lillard’s wishes would matter a great deal because of the enormity of his contract.”
Lillard and his agent Aaron Goodwin are meeting with the Blazers on Monday to discuss his future with the franchise, according to Bleacher Report.
Lillard has come out on multiple occasions stating that he believes that Portland has the assets and opportunities to find players to help him contend – however, by not making trades on draft night, that significantly lessened the possibility they choose that route over a rebuild.
With limited cap space, it seems more likely than ever that the 32-year-old Lillard is on his way out.
Miami has been linked to Lillard for a while, including when he explicitly said the Heat would be an “obvious” trade destination for him if he demanded out of Portland.
“I think Miami is the obvious one,” Lillard said on Brian Custer’s “Last Stand Podcast”. “And Bam is my dog. Bam is my dog, for real. But I think Miami is the obvious one.”
The two played together on Team USA in 2020 and a reunion in South Beach seems increasingly likely as the days go on.
Lillard also was on Instagram Live when Will Smith’s “Miami” played in the background, although Goodwin said it was “just a coincidence.”
Although Lillard does not have a no-trade clause like recently traded Bradley Beal, who forced his way out of Washington, his massive contract gives him some say of where he goes.
The seven-time All-Star is coming off one of his best seasons of his career with averages of 32.2 points and 7.3 assists.
Adding Lillard to a Miami squad that went through precipitous offensive droughts in its playoff run to the NBA Finals would immediately make it a major contender to not only make it back to the championship round, and to potentially win it all.