Damian Lillard reignites Heat trade rumors in spite of NBA threats

After 11 years of unwavering loyalty for the franchise that drafted him No. 6 overall back in 2012, Lillard requested a trade from the Blazers last month with one destination in mind: Miami. 

Less than a week after his request, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Lillard's agent, Aaron Goodwin, cautioned non-Heat teams from trading for his client, declaring they'd be acquiring an "unhappy player." 

Rumors of Lillard posturing to join the Heat led the NBA to send a memo to all 30 teams, threatening discipline for any player, or his agent, who makes public or private remarks suggesting he won't "fully perform the services called for under his player contract in the event of a trade."

Lillard, 33, has three years remaining on his contract with the Blazers, plus a player option for the 2026-27 season. Portland appears willing to honor Lillard's trade request. Yet, the Blazers are under no obligation to part ways with their longtime franchise cornerstone and likely won't do so until a plus offer comes through. 

Despite coming off a 2022-23 campaign where he set a career high in points (32.2 ppg) and tied a career-high in field goal percentage (46.3%), the market for Lillard appears to be a one-horse race with the Heat as the lone participants. 

When push comes to shove, expectations are that Lillard finds his way to Miami. However, the longer Lillard remains on Portland's roster, the more of a risk the Heat run of missing out on their target. If Miami hopes to finalize a deal before more suitors snoop around, it'll have to find a third team willing to take on Tyler Herro's $120M contract.     

While Herro is by far the best realistic trade asset on the Heat's roster, the Blazers have remained adamant in their disinterest in adding the former Sixth Man of the Year to a young and budding backcourt. 

Portland selected Scoot Henderson No. 3 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. The Blazers also have a 21.1 ppg scorer in Anfernee Simons and a 20-year-old Shaedon Sharpe already at their disposal.