Insider backs rumor of preferred timeline for Lillard trade

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard. Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Insider backs rumor of Blazers’ preferred timeline for Damian Lillard trade

By Jeff Smith | Last updated 9/22/23

It appears that there’s a chance, even if it’s a slim one, that the Portland Trail Blazers may wind up striking a Damian Lillard trade sooner rather than later. At least, if their preferred timeline comes to fruition, which will seem like a long shot until a deal gets done, based on how hot-and-cold reported negotiations have gone thus far.

While nothing has changed on the front of Lillard only targeting the Miami Heat as his destination, Heat insider Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald confirmed a report from 1080 The FAN’s Danny Marang that there’s a “sense” the Blazers want to get a deal done prior to training camp.

This was how it was described tonight by non Heat person who spoke with Portland FO. This is first time I've gotten sense Blazers would like to make deal before camp, if they get what they want. (Big if) Heat obviously still in this despite passive Portland approach with Miami https://t.co/BY18JPuzyR
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) September 22, 2023

The kicker? It’s the fact that the NBA league calendar has training camps starting on Sept. 27, so less than a week away. In turn, this feels a lot like a way for for the Blazers to push for the final stretch of offers (it’s unknown how many there are outside of the reported Miami rumblings), before the situation gets a bit uncomfortable.

Lillard plans to attend training camp for only two teams, Shams Charania of The Athletic told Bally Sports’ The Rally — the Blazers or the Heat.

How things would play out if Lillard attended camp for the Blazers would make for quite the storyline, but it does appear that his focus on landing with the Heat hasn’t shifted at all. So if Portland truly does want to get a deal done before camp, it’s going to be worth monitoring to see whether the Heat increase their offer, or the Blazers opt to accept less than they’ve initially been reported as being open to accepting thus far.

More must-reads: