Report: Heat targeting seven-time All-Star after missing out on Bradley Beal

While Lillard excelled personally last season, averaging 32.2 points, 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game, Portland struggled mightily as a team, finishing 13th in the Western Conference (33-49). The Trail Blazers' troubles ended up paying off in a way, as they secured the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. 

However, NBA insider Marc Stein recently reported that there's "legitimate concern percolating" that Lillard could force a trade if Portland doesn't trade the pick for an established veteran. With the draft scheduled for Thursday, Portland has little time before it must make perhaps the most pivotal decision in franchise history.

In the event that Portland keeps the third pick, the franchise will likely select Alabama's Brandon Miller or G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson. Either option would make for a solid building block in a rebuild should Lillard ask for a trade.

The opportunity to draft a talent like Henderson or Miller might be too appealing for the Trail Blazers to pass up. If this truly is the summer Lillard requests a move – as some are starting to believe it will be – he has already expressed an interest in joining the Heat.

During an appearance on Showtime's Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer, Lillard named Miami as an "obvious" fit if he were hypothetically traded. He also praised the Heat's All-Star center, Bam Adebayo. 

So, given their mutual interest, what could a deal sending Lillard to the Heat entail?

Per the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson, the Heat's potential package for Beal would have included Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson or Victor Oladipo, along with Nikola Jović and Haywood Highsmith. Any offer for Lillard inevitably will involve shooting guard Tyler Herro. Some of the pieces they would have sent to Washington would also likely be included.

Although the Heat put together a miraculous run to the NBA Finals, their regular-season scoring woes eventually caught up with them. By adding Lillard, that issue would be resolved, though there is no telling if it'll be enough to win a championship.