Photograph by Alika Jenner/Getty Photos

Now, we get to the participant everybody has been speaking about this week so far as potential NBA trades, Lillard.

As has been reported persistently for days now, Lillard’s sole focus stays on touchdown in Miami to play alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

“Damian Lillard solely desires to play for the Miami Warmth … I’m instructed there are 3- or 4-team eventualities in a take care of the Warmth that may doubtlessly web the Blazers a number of first-round draft picks.”

NBA Insider @ShamsCharania stories on Damian Lillard’s future. pic.twitter.com/LmrLJoIqXi

— The Rally (@TheRally) July 3, 2023

Lillard’s thought to hitch the Warmth has been so steadfast (to this point) that it has made his market smaller than it might be in any other case, with crew homeowners reportedly reluctant to green-light a significant commerce provide for him for worry it’d create an ungainly scenario if Portland have been to just accept, in line with Fischer:

Lillard’s Miami-or-nothing place is muddying his exit out of Oregon, however underneath totally different circumstances. Whereas Harden paced the NBA in assists final season and his pair of 40-point outbursts in opposition to Boston helped Philadelphia acquire a 3-2 edge within the Japanese Convention semifinals, Lillard was posting All-NBA-caliber performances earlier than his season was shut down. He’s additionally underneath contract for 4 extra seasons at over $200 million, fairly an costly gamble for a crew proprietor and entrance workplace if there’s no assure Lillard shall be completely happy about becoming a member of them.

Shams Charania additionally reported yesterday that individuals across the NBA strongly consider Lillard-to-Miami is the likeliest end result:

As our Sam Amick reported over the weekend, league sources point out the Blazers are entertaining provides from across the league to hunt the absolute best deal for them, although there stays a robust perception a deal to Miami stays the more than likely end result. Damian Lillard’s openness together with his desire is anticipated to maintain different groups at bay with out assurance that Lillard can be completely happy to hitch them.

So we look like on a holding sample, a minimum of in the meanwhile, one that would final weeks, in line with a Portland-area reporter:

I am instructed that this complete Lillard-Blazers-Warmth saga might final (gulp) weeks.

In fact, that would change on a dime.

Let’s hope it does. I’ve acquired vaca arising.

— Aaron J. Fentress (@AaronJFentress) July 3, 2023

Miami additionally seems prepared to attend on Portland to just accept no matter its provide for Lillard is, because the crew has reportedly been telling brokers of potential minimal wage targets that it’s in a holding sample for now, ready on the Lillard saga to culminate:

An agent with out there free brokers instructed me this morning that Warmth certainly has conveyed to them that they are in a holding sample on roster strikes (significantly with providing minimal contracts) till they resolve Lillard, as @JakeLFischer reported. Miami continues to work on Dame.

— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) July 4, 2023

Our personal Michael Scotto reported the Blazers might additionally look so as to add massive man Jusuf Nurkic to a Lillard commerce as a way to get off of his wage:

Portland can also be anticipated to debate Jusuf Nurkic as a part of commerce packages surrounding Lillard, league sources instructed HoopsHype. Nurkic is owed $54.38 million over the following three seasons, per our HoopsHype Blazers salaries web page.

Is Lillard to Miami only a matter of time at this level? Would Portland actually go in opposition to its franchise GOAT’s needs and ship him someplace he doesn’t need to go? Will one other crew truly make an enormous commerce provide for a smaller guard who might earn $63.2 million in 2026-27, his age-36 season?

All unclear for now however we could possibly be ready some time for a decision of this example.

For the most recent on the Damian Lillard commerce market, click on right here.