It appears the Miami Heat has turned their focus onto Plan B after missing out on Bradley Beal.
And that’s reportedly Damian Lillard.
The Heat’s focus is now on Lillard, and the Eastern Conference champions have a “genuine belief” that this is the summer that Lillard looks for a change in scenery, according to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes.
That could spell trouble for the Nets — whom The Post’s Brian Lewis reported last month have “genuine interest” in acquiring Lillard — as the Heat are better positioned to win a championship.
It’s no secret that the Heat are looking to bolster their lineup after a surprise run to the 2023 NBA Finals.
And after missing out on Beal, who is heading from the Wizards to the Suns in a yet-to-be-finalized trade, Lillard would be the next best thing to help their offense.
Lillard averaged a career-high 32.2 points last season for the Portland Trail Blazers along with 7.3 assists per game.
The Heat are hoping that his comments on Brian Custer’s “The Last Stand” podcast earlier this month were genuine when he named Miami as one of two teams he’d like to go to if he didn’t stay in Portland.
Miami has the ability to put together a very intriguing package to entice the Trail Blazers to make a deal if Lillard does indeed want out of the Rose City.
As Miami Herald sports journalist Barry Jackson pointed out on Twitter, the Heat has potentially five first-round picks that they could send to Portland, including Nikola Jović and making a pick for the Trail Blazers at 18.
Per Lillard’s contract, no trade can occur before July 9, but there could begin to be some clarity sooner rather than later.
Trade rumors have long swirled around Lillard, who has spent all 11 years of his career in Portland, and he has stated recently that he expected to start the season with the Trail Blazers.
But if Portland can’t bring in another piece to make themselves a contender and opt to select either Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller with the No. 3 pick, then the situation could very well change.
The Nets were the other destination that Lillard had mentioned as one he’d like to go to other than Portland.
The lifelong Trail Blazer has also given high praise to both Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson.
Lillard also praised Miami’s Bam Adebayo during his podcast appearance.
The Nets would have four first-round picks to use in a deal with the Trail Blazers, though including Bridges would likely be a non-starter.
Lillard is aware that the cost to acquire him may make it tougher for whichever team wins his services to compete if they give up a lot.
“I think that’s a loaded question because they can trade me to somewhere that we all say, ‘This is a contender,’ but what is it going to cost for me to get there?” Lillard wondered on Custer’s podcast. “What is it going to cost the team that we’re saying is a contender for me to get there? And how is it a guarantee that we’re going to be playing in June when I got there? How do we know they’re going to be healthy, how do we know if it’s going to work out?”