After multiple reporters suggested on Thursday that the Trail Blazers appear to be increasing their efforts to try to trade Damian Lillard before training camp, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN agreed with that assessment on Friday, saying on NBA Today that Portland is “certainly behaving like a team that wants to get a deal done” before camps get underway (Twitter video link).
Still, according to Wojnarowski, the Blazers have yet to gain serious traction toward an agreement. They continue to have conversations with different clubs and explore various multi-team trade scenarios.
“Those talks have intensified, but still, there’s no trade imminent,” Wojnarowski said.“… You have Portland trying to not only talk to teams who have an interest in Lillard, but lots of teams who’d like to get in on a bigger deal. Can they pick up a couple draft picks to take on some money? Is there a need that they have that they can get in a three- or four-team trade? So Portland is exhausting all of those conversations this week.”
Interestingly, while Miami has been Lillard’s preferred destination and presumed landing spot since he initially requested a trade at the start of July, the Heat haven’t been involved in the Blazers’ conversations this week, according to Wojnarowski. However, he cautions that Miami’s apparent lack of involvement at this point doesn’t necessarily mean that Lillard will be traded elsewhere.
“So far, the one element that has not been a part of these talks are the Miami Heat,” Woj said. “But we know in trade talks and conversations, that could change in one moment with one call.”
The Trail Blazers, as they’ve been trying to do all summer, may simply be attempting to get a serious offer for Lillard from another team to put pressure on the Heat to make a more aggressive offer themselves. Or perhaps the Blazers already have a pretty good sense of what Miami’s best offer for Lillard would look like and are gauging what they could get from a third or fourth team for some of those Heat assets.
“The Blazers already have a pretty good sense of what Miami’s best offer for Lillard would look like and are gauging what they could get from a third or fourth team for some of those Heat assets.”
That sums it up. Lillard signaling when he did set this up. Let’s see how innovative and data driven Cronin and his front office really is. Lots of big chips out there to deal around. Pretty good track record imo… I’m thinking they’ve set themselves up well, very likely in collaboration with DL, to get lucky and get some great pieces out of this thing.
Also great that Pat Riley is on the other end of this deal. He knows what he is doing. Cronin can rely on Riley doing his part. All he has to do is focus on closing other deals around the horn.
Riley just trying to get Lillard for some late 1st picks and an overpaid guy… no thx
They are just putting it out there that those guys are available. The game is to find out who are the takers…
The Heat have no chance at Lilliard, the whole league knows their best package and half can beat it without even depleting their own assets
Blazers are wack. Take herro , Lowry, picks and just move on.
Not going to happen ducky.
Yes, take the Herro contract, which is horrible, then take Lowry who cannot even play a full season and is like 50.
Miami has nothing. Their entire offer is pressure from Lillard.
So tired of all these idiots on here saying Herro’s contract is so terrible. It’s literally only a slight overpay and in new CBA you have to reach the salary floor anyway.
I feel confident in saying herro will never make a single all star appearance! He’s a good player but he’s not close to a star and odds are he will be like most who leave the heat and become worse off as players
They are going to take a package looking like that with picks. All the phone calls is about seeing what they can get by flipping Tyler Herro. Miami gave them their best and final offer long ago, and they were serious.
Portland must now take the deal, because they are not going to bring Lillard to camp. All the urgency is from Portland, who understands that Miami ain’t upping the deal.
What is not being talked about is that Chauncey Billups finally gets to mold a young team in the image he wants. He didn’t have the personnel previously. Now he gets to guide a rebuild around Scoot, and mold the type of team he wants. Can’t have Lillard around for that.
And I understand why they don’t want to fit herro into that pic ! They have other guys they rather run their offense through ! And I understand why other teams don’t value herro Beyond one future first rd pick that has lotto protections for sure ! Herro isn’t a future star or all star most likely ! Most teams won’t be able to hide his flaws like the heat can
@VeryBarry: “Portland must now take the deal, because they are not going to bring Lillard to camp. All the urgency is from Portland, who understands that Miami ain’t upping the deal.”
Why do you think Portland won’t bring Lillard to camp? Why do you think Portland has any urgency whatsoever to move Lillard?
Facts: A) Lillard is under contract for several more years at a very high rate of pay. B) There is very little chance Lillard will sit out the season. C) Portland is rebuilding/tanking and might actually benefit from Lillard not playing if he does choose to sit out. D) Miami needs another piece like Lillard if they want to get over the hump and win a championship. E) Whatever picks Miami offers will be diminished because Miami will be a great team (ie, 1sts will be mid-late-first round.
Miami has all of the urgency and none of the leverage. You have everything backwards. Push comes to shove, Portland will just kick back and force Lillard’s hand to expand his list of preferred locations. If you think Lillard will sit out several years or retire, in either case leaving like $150+ million on the table, I have a bridge to sell you.
@rct …. Because Portland is in a rebuild. They have no shot at even making the playoffs even with Lillard on the roster. It is an unwanted distraction to a team that also wants to move on from Lillard. All the talk of keeping him around was just posturing. Just trying to act like you are good either way. They are not. It’s Scoot’s team now. Miami let Portland know what they will offer. Clearly they have no urgency because they ain’t calling. Miami feels like they are good either way.
Miami has no urgency. They didn’t pursue Lillard. He came to them. Miami went to the NBA Finals last year without Lillard, and with Herro hurt. Miami knows that if they don’t get Lillard, and they feel they need to add something, that they can go and get it. Plenty of dudes will be available around the deadline.
Miami has the best coach in the NBA …. Great Weather ….. Beautiful Women …. Great Night Life …. No State Income Tax …. Miami has no problem getting players to want to play for them.
Someone will give up an asset or 2 for Herro eventually, especially when a contending team has an injury. Portland should just end the drama, don’t stunt Scoot’s growth and make the trade. Miami’s pick are more valuable then people give credit for, everyone but Bam will be way out of their prime by the time of those picks. They can hold Herro out then flip him when they find the right deal if they really are so opposed to him bc they have Simmons and Sharpe.
Raptors may just sneak in here, Trent, Boucher and Porter with all the picks.
Better than what Miami is offering and better chance those picks become valuable in 2 years once Raptors only have an aging Lillard and Barnes
Wouldn’t it make more sense to deal OG to the Blazers in lieu of picks or to a 3rd team that gives up picks? OG wants a bigger role, Dame would decrease his role. Dame, Dick, Barnes, Siakam (reup), and Poeltl as the core beyond this year.
If you’re as high as they seem to be on Barnes, OG is expendable. And Dame > OG.
They are very unlikely to attract a Dame caliber player via FA.
Is it enough to contend for it to be worth the investment? That’s the question.
OG is integral to the Defense. He is the entire Defense and would need to be on the floor with Lillard at all times to pick up Lillards lack of Defense
OG could probably shut down Kobe in his prime or at least limit him to 15-20 max
Without OG were trying to win every game 130-125 which just doesn’t fly come playoffs
Smells like this is going to be a real blockbuster, with multiple teams and players involved