Getty Image / Rich Schultz
Over the last week, NBA fans have been waiting to hear an official announcement for one major move.
That move is a Damian Lillard trade.
Lillard requested a trade last week and the expectation has been that the Miami Heat would end up landing the star point guard.
So far, no deal has come to fruition.
There had been a report that the Heat were willing to give up Tyler Herro in a deal to get Lillard, but it seems that isn’t enough to get the deal done as the Heat and Blazers have been trying to get a 3rd team involved in the deal.
Today, it was revealed why that 3rd team is necessary.
The Blazers are asking for a lot to give Lillard up.
According to The Oregonian’s Aaron Fentress, the Portland Trail Blazers are looking for something in the neighborhood of 4 first round picks and 2 quality players.
Damian Lillard’s agent believes Blazers and Heat will reach a deal
Other teams need not bother.
“I don’t think another team would do a deal like that knowing everything that’s going on,” Aaron Goodwin said. “But if they do, then they don’t know Dame.”https://t.co/7bvZXrxQ8Y
— Aaron J. Fentress (@AaronJFentress) July 7, 2023
“The Blazers, according to NBA sources, are seeking in the neighborhood of four first-round picks and two quality players. But accomplishing that could require adding a third team to the equation.”
This would put the Lillard trade package at a bit less than what the Nets got for Kevin Durant at the trade deadline. That deal brought in Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Jae Crowder, 4 1sts, and a pick swap.
Right now, it’s not really clear who would be brought into the deal to make it happen.
Herro is probably the bait for any 3rd team, but the Heat don’t have much else to offer in the trade besides picks.
They were reportedly planning on including Duncan Robinson in their offer, but he has a bad contract and has seen his role dwindle the past couple of years.
The Heat own almost all of their upcoming draft picks, but those picks won’t be too enticing the next few years.
With these trade demands from the Portland Trail Blazers, it looks like the Miami Heat are going to need some help getting a Damian Lillard trade done or the Blazers might start trying to convince Lillard to play somewhere else.