The Trail Blazers told rival teams that they are “open for business everywhere in the league” regarding a Damian Lillard trade, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (YouTube link).
Lillard, who asked for a trade on Saturday after weeks of speculation, reportedly hopes to end up in Miami, where he could be part of a title contender. However, the Heat may not be able to offer the best trade package, and Portland GM Joe Cronin intends to focus on the team’s needs rather than Lillard’s preference while negotiating a deal.
“For Portland, they’re going to go out into the marketplace and try to find the best deal they can,” Wojnarowski said, “a combination of young players, draft picks, salary cap relief, all the things you want when a star of Damian Lillard’s magnitude asks to be traded.”
Woj adds that he doesn’t expect a Lillard deal to be completed quickly and that Miami doesn’t have any advantage because Lillard wants to go there. The Blazers haven’t told Lillard whether they intend to comply with his request to join the Heat, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.
There are more trade rumors to pass along:
- The Sixers‘ asking price for James Harden has been “really high,” Wojnarowski said in the same segment, noting that president of basketball operations Daryl Morey tends to seek a lot in return when a star player wants to be traded. Harden picked up his $35.6MM player option this week, and reports have indicated that he wants to be dealt to the Clippers. Wojnarowski adds that it’s “not an easy trade to make” because Philadelphia has to get value in return to pair with MVP Joel Embiid and keep the team in title contention. Woj speculates that trade talks could extend beyond Summer League action.
- The Celtics aren’t trying to trade Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, a source tells Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Brogdon was involved in an early version of the Kristaps Porzingis deal, but that fell through when the Clippers pulled out due to medical concerns about Brogdon. Himmelsbach adds that Brogdon is expected to be ready for the start of next season, even though he’s considering surgery for a right elbow injury he suffered in the Eastern Conference Finals.
- The Knicks will continue to explore trades involving Evan Fournier, per Ian Begley of SNY.tv, but they don’t need to open any more cap flexibility to add Donte DiVincenzo after agreeing to send Obi Toppin to the Pacers. New York doesn’t seem to be actively pursuing either Lillard or Harden, according to Begley.
- David Weiner of ClutchFans.net (Twitter link) suspects the Rockets will fold multiple reported trade agreements into their sign-and-trade deal for Dillon Brooks in order to maximize their cap room. After acquiring Patty Mills and using up their remaining cap space, Weiner posits, Houston will package Josh Christopher (to the Grizzlies), Usman Garuba and TyTy Washington (to the Hawks), and Mills (destination TBD), whose combined salaries will be enough to match Brooks’ expected first-year salary (approximately $21.6MM) without requiring room.
That’s wrong regarding the rockets. What’s being reported is they are putting all of it together so they will have 14 million left and if they can unload Tate it would go up to 20 million.
What’s wrong?
They aren’t making that big trade just to add salary to give to Dillion brooks. They are doing it so they have 14 million left to play with. Just the way it was worded seemed it was all to pay brooks more his first year
I mean, it says “in order to maximize their cap room” in the first sentence, but I tweaked the wording on the second part to try to make it clearer.
Morey does this because he is incompetent and bad at his job and should never have a job in the NBA as he’s a talentless clown who doesnt get results.
Uh he traded a not playing Ben Simmons for James Harden
Imagine what Ben Simmons gets now
Didn’t he give Ben Simmons that money in the first place? He also traded a boatload for Russell Westbrook in Houston. And Mike Dantoni is always a stupid decision.
He makes some good moves. The pupu platter to get Chris Paul was a nice trade
You probably say this because you read the Daily Worker and support the CCP
He’s gotten better results than 80% of other GMs who fail out of the job after 3 or 4 seasons.
Picky semantics here, but the Knicks didn’t need to open any cap space to add DiVincenzo regardless. They are over the cap, so any pending Fournier move would simply increase room under the tax.
Exact approach Portland should take with Lillard. Let Miami find a third team that can help them satisfy Portlands requirements to trade their franchise player.
Only wish they need to try and fulfill is his desire to play for a contender. There are quite a few would-be contenders out there so as long as Portland helps him get to one of those teams, his location preference should generally be irrelevant to the Blazers.
It’s amazing how many sixers fans still try to defend Morey.
Bryan Colangelo ruined that team. The 76ers should bring Hinkie back.
The Blazers owe Lillard nothing. They’ve made him beyond rich. Trade him to the team that gives the best package. It’s simple.
Lillard will continue to make it clear that he ONLY wants to be traded to Miami to force his way there. It is a poison pill to throw at other teams trying to make offers. You don’t want to trade for a guy who doesn’t want to be on your team when you him over $200 million the next four years. The deal will get done to send him to Miami.
well he has yet to say that once. He prefers Miami but has never said he only wants to go there.
The new John Wall real soon! Worse contract out there besides Draymond!
Especially since only contenders/near-contenders will want to acquire him in the first place. It may not be his preference of Miami, but he’ll still get his wish to, perhaps, compete for a championship. That’s good enough.
Miami was a 7th seed … Not a title contender
What? They played in the series that determines the championship. They are quite literally title contenders.
I wonder with the Rockets. Who else will go. I wonder on Tate as did not play a lot last season. I know FVV and Brooks were a couple of their targets. I know Green, Jabari, Tari and Sengun are ones should keep. KPJ not sure. Will they keep NBA champ Jeff Green. They sent out the ones I knew for sure would in KJ, Nix, Christopher and Garuba.
Harden a big mess again. Never liked Morey even with Houston. Cannot say on Rafael even with Houston now. But has he done saved his job for this season with what has done for now or what could do. But Harden and Westbrook with Clippers and Kawhi and Paul if they see much this season. Guess glad CP3 is with GSW.
I wish the best for Lillard and where he goes. Hopefully somewhere that he can fit and perhaps get that ring. Portland I do not see going far this season or for a bit. Scoot coming in hopefully can get players that can help him grow.
For now tate is probably safe but depending on the big sign and trade for brooks and who the rockets might try to get with that extra money he could be shipped out if they need that extra 6 million or so
If you trade Lillard or Harden, only two teams you don’t need to chat are
Clippers
Heat
They can’t offer what you want
You go ahead to demand a star and 4 Firsts
Lillard is only loyal to his own interests ($$$, power, his music and his family). He’s never been loyal to his teammates unless they serve his interests. He has been the most responsible for the lack of players desire to play in Portland. Why would they since it was always Dame-time and never team time. Until he learns the name on the front of his jersey is more important than his name on the back. So glad his selfish ball hog ISO offense is leaving town. There have been great teams in Portland “1977-78” and good teams 1990-1992. That had good players who played well together. None of Lillard’s teams ever achieved anything more than mediocre in Portland. So unless he’s willing to take a lesser role than “Lame-time” he will never be a champion. He is one of the few good players who couldn’t make his teammate’s better, all because his lack of trust and loyalty.
No star will ever choose Portland as a FA. Not because of Dame, its because its Portland. The fact that Dame stayed there for 11 years shows his loyalty.
We’ve had many people who wanted to be here before Lillard arrived, Pippen, Ainge, Kemp, Grant and the list goes on. Everyone while he’s been here knows he’s the GM and they better take a back seat to Dame-Time! Who would want to play here knowing they still have to be blamed for “his“ lack of defense or lack of team play?
You are correct
If Lillard really love Blazers, he would never ask to be traded to Heat
Blazers need the future
Heat can’t give Blazers future
He never asked to be traded to the Heat. He said he would like to play for a contender and prefers Miami but has never said he only wants to play for them. Heck, he even mentioned San Antonio.
If all Dame ever cared about was his own interests he would’ve hit the open market or asked for a trade years ago. The 2018-19 Blazers made a run to the Western Conference Finals before being swept the Warriors, that’s far better than mediocre. The fact that Portland’s a smaller market team had more than anything to do with players not wanting to go there. I can’t remember any of his teammates speaking of Dame without respect. The Blazers played iso-ball because it was the smart thing to do as Dame usually drew 2+ defenders and one usually tried to pick him up at half court. As a lead guard and main scoring option he still averaged 7.3 apg for his career on Portland. No those aren’t prime Harden-nesque type numbers but that’s still very good, especially when your best teammate over that time was C.J. McCollum who plays pretty much the same style Dame does.
Why would he have ever left knowing he’s #1 and a player GM? He didn’t want to leave because he would never have the control he had here, anywhere else.
I would argue he’s been TOO loyal to his teammates in some sense to the point where he’s hamstrung the front office by making certain players essentially untradeable for the longest time (looking at you, CJ). If you’re truly adamant about winning, you let your front office do its job without any conditions.
As for the heliocentric offense, what other choice did he have? He’s generally been a part of subpar offensive systems lacking creativity and surrounded by other offensive players who lean into the ISO game themselves. The true test for him will be how his game translates on a real contender. Can he adjust those tendancies or will old habits die hard?
Cry much? Dame is the only reason Portland has been relevant in a decade.
Also how entitled are you to throw this tantrum after a guy gave a decade of his career to that black hole of a front office.
I think he exits a year they may jell. Scoot is really good Simmons still has not peaked. Sharpe will be an All Star!
Heat get Lillard and Nassir Little
Orlando gets Simons
Portland gets Lowry, Herro, Gary Harris, Bol Bol, Cole Anthony, Orlando 2024 1st, Denver 2024 2nd, Memphis/Boston 2025 2nd, Milwaukee 2026 2nd, Heat 2024 1st (after Heat swaps 2025 and 2026 with OKC to open it up), Heat 2028 1st, Heat 2030 1st
Thought Philly could be a 3rd team for Lowry, but they signed Beverley. Toronto could be a spot for Lowry though
Portland gets salary relief with all the expirings, plus Herro at half the cost of Lillard, 4 1sts, 3 2nds, and the salary relief on the 4 year deal for Little…they also have a lot of movable pieces in that scenario to do other stuff/would still have a pretty good team
If it was me though, I just wouldnt trade him. I said the same with KD last year. They should just make the last couple of moves they would make if they were keeping him, including trying to trade Simons. They have him for 4 years. It’s not like they have to rush
As a Heat fan, I generally hope they dont trade for him. I would prefer specific types of players, if they were going to make a big trade, and go away from their current trajectory/roster
The Heat don’t make sense to me. The 76ers seem like the best fit.
Its funny how Sean Deveaney’s lousy worded sources claim, Duncan Robinson is a “sharpshooter”, and the best deal for Portland is Miami nonsense has gone so far as people claiming Lillard requested a trade only to Miami.
He didn’t, and I think He has said he wouldn’t mind NY, Brooklyn, Miami, and even said something about admiring dipstick-Popovich in San Antonio.
Whoever pays, is contending, and likely from the east.
I like Miami’s chances, but they are far from a lock for Lillard. And so is NY if Evan Fournier is their trade bait…
NY should have dumped Fournier the way Dallas did Bertans, Portland will just waive Fournier, and charge NY for the facilitation. More than a couple 2nds
I still don’t know why the Knicks basically gave away Obi for nothing. Donte is a nice addition but was hoping for Curry as well. The dream Knicks off season is to trade Fournier, Barrett and picks to the Nets for Bridges.
If the nets wouldn’t take 4 first round picks for bridges why would they except that horrible offer?
Agreed, I’d much rather be getting Obi, or any other knick salary than Fournier.
Morey will screw this one up too. He’s going to hold onto Harden til there’s nothing left to trade for. Can we trade him along with Harden.
I’m glad Cronin is starting to talk tough (or at least drop the capitulation tone). Hopefully, its not just that he’s insulted that DL pulled the plug on his off season test so quickly and through Billups. He controls, whether he knows it or not. This deal will define his tenure. Not the last 18 bizzare months.
I’m not buying it, the actual quotes sound like they came out of a handbook. Telling, as this is chapter one talk, and that’s probably where he is in the book right now
Put him in a room with Riley and Pats leaving with Dame, Cronins shirt and probably the pink slip to his car as well
LOL. Yeah. But at least he’s reading it.
Duncan Robinson is my canary in this coal mine. Riley’s sycophants in the media are trying to pass him off as some kind of asset. Cronin can leave the meeting without his shirt, but he can’t leave it with Duncan Robinson.
As a Heat fan, I would prefer not to trade Duncan Robinson in a deal for Lillard, even though I also would prefer not trading for him at all, but I’m especially saying I wouldnt use Duncan Robinson
I’m caught in the middle here, I like Duncan more than this board portrays him (Bertans level at points) He’s underwater a tad but nothing horrific (that last years only semi guaranteed) I think he gets too much of the wraith of Mia’s hot or not shooting sprees they have endured since the bubble really
But…ledger wise w a Dame trade Duncan most likely HAS to go,,,weather that be a 3rd team or just to POR
I don’t like the 3 star model, but Id be damned to go against anything Riley decides to do
You could look at it as a token to Jimmy, a lets go for it for 3 years type deal, Im ok with it if Riley sees the path
** Outta all the older guys/big salary possible move-offs
Kat Beal LaVine Dame Harden , Dame is the only guy Id move on in a deal, I think Mia feels the same….tho theres a strange world I could see if Dame goes to say Brk I could see MIA taking a mercenary type flier on Harden. He’d be a semi perfect fit if the heads right, depends on cost and if Philly would really wanna move to Mia (highly debatable) ….. It be a pretty lethal pairing Imo if just for a year
I wouldn’t want any of those guys outside of maybe KAT
I think the 3 star model is essentially dead as a building template, or something sustainable over a long period. But if a 3rd star is available to add to a team that is a relatively finished product, then I don’t see any issue. Ownership would need to be on board obviously.
Duncan has improved. Not just a shooter anymore …..
A couple of thoughts I could see as options
The same earlier deal I mentioned previously, but instead, Orlando gets Herro instead of Simons, and Portland gets Caleb Houston from Orlando in addition to the others, and the 2024 denver 2nd is the 2025 Denver 1st, which would be 5 1sts instead of 4
Heat get Lillard and Nassir Little
Orlando gets Simons
Portland gets Lowry, Herro, Gary Harris, Bol Bol, Cole Anthony, Orlando 2024 1st, Denver 2024 2nd, Memphis/Boston 2025 2nd, Milwaukee 2026 2nd, Heat 2024 1st (after Heat swaps 2025 and 2026 with OKC to open it up), Heat 2028 1st, Heat 2030 1st
Another idea would be to have Kyle Lowry go to Brooklyn, with Spencer Dinwiddie and Edmund Sumner going to Portland, and a 2026 2nd
And then 1 more where Lowry goes to Philly, Siakam goes to Philly
Paul Reed goes to the Heat
Tobias Harris and a Philly 2nd goes to Portland
Harden, Jaden Springer 2029 Philly 1st to Toronto, and 1 of their other 2nds
Harden playing at MSG ……. ????
now that’s Funny. They wouldn’t let him in the building. This is where De Fence. Chant originated.
link to entertainment.howstuffworks.com
Actually think it was before. I’ve read it somewhere.