Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has requested a trade, according to multiple reports, and several teams covet the seven-time All-Star who was named one of the NBA’s 75 Greatest Players ever. While the Miami Heat is reportedly Lillard’s preferred destination, other teams can make compelling trade packages, such as the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and others.
Portland is also expected to discuss Jusuf Nurkic as part of trade packages surrounding Lillard, league sources told HoopsHype. Nurkic is owed $54.38 million over the next three seasons, per our HoopsHype Blazers salaries page.
With Lillard wanting out, Portland will enter a rebuild around No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson and last year’s No. 7 overall pick Shaedon Sharpe.
Another trade candidate to monitor down the line will be Jerami Grant, who agreed to a five-year, $160 million deal with the Blazers before the team received word that Lillard wanted out of Portland. Grant was expected to draw interest from several teams in free agency, including the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers before word got around the league that the 29-year-old forward would remain with Portland on a new blockbuster deal. Grant is in the prime of his career and doesn’t ideally fit Portland’s new timeline with its young core.
With all that in mind, which team could have the best trade package to acquire Lillard? While Miami is widely reported to be his preferred destination, Miami doesn’t have the best trade package to offer on paper. The Brooklyn Nets were originally viewed as a potential desired destination before reports shifted towards Miami.
While league sources say Mikal Bridges is not for sale, the Nets can theoretically offer a package involving some combination of up to seven first-round picks, rising center Nicolas Claxton, starting point guard Spencer Dinwiddie and his $20.36 million expiring contract, coveted wings in Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith, and recent first-round picks Noah Clowney and Dariq Whitehead.
The Nets have been unwilling to move O’Neale without the equivalent of a first-round pick in return or Finney-Smith without the equivalent of two first-round picks, league sources told HoopsHype.
Despite Brooklyn’s potential package of assets, Miami is considered a stronger contender in the East heading into next season, anchored by Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, which appeals to Lillard. The Heat also has 23-year-old former Sixth Man of the Year winner Tyler Herro as the potential centerpiece of a trade package and can offer clutch playoff performer Caleb Martin, former first-round pick Nikola Jovic, and multiple future first-round picks.
Heat executive Pat Riley recently praised Herro during his end-of-season media availability. “We missed him. People just don’t understand how lethal he is in those moments. He gets bigger in the biggest of moments. We’ve seen it time and again from the bubble to here. We’ve got two anchors in Bam and Tyler.”
However, it wouldn’t be the first time an executive has praised a player on his current team only to move him. Just ask Mike Dunleavy Jr. after trading Jordan Poole four days after saying he expected him with the Warriors for another four years, given his contract extension.
Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey, a player several NBA executives believe can become a future All-Star, is not for sale at this time. However, with James Harden demanding a trade out of Philadelphia and Daryl Morey always looking to add a star player, the 76ers are worth monitoring. The team has had several trade talks surrounding Tobias Harris as well this offseason.
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