NBA News: Dark horse team make moves for Lillard trade contract over heat....

Portland Trail Blazers training camp begins on October 3 and for the time being all attention remains squarely fixated on the future of superstar point guard Damian Lillard.

Lillard, who is still owed $216 million guaranteed over four years, requested a trade from Portland back in July after 11 seasons with the franchise.

While the seven-time All-Star is not expected to hold out or be a no-show for training camp, Blazers coach Chauncey Billups admitted the situation is “unsettling” in an interview with NBA.com.

The Heat have been linked to Lillard as his preferred trade partner, although there have long been doubts that Miami has the kind of package to entice Portland in a straight two-way deal.

In that sense, Portland has been said to be exploring potential multi-team deals and those talks have continued recently according to ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski.

Portland is trying to put together a number of multi-team scenarios to see what they can get the assets back in a trade for Damian Lillard,” Wojnarowski said this week.

“They have been aggressive here in the last weeks… only because the league started up again. Labor Day comes, teams are engaging again. I do think they’re engaging. The question is do they find a deal in the next couple of weeks or do they have to bring Lillard back to camp?”

That is consistent with reporting from Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian, who said there “hasn’t been great traction” between the Blazers and other teams on a potential trade.

They are talking to other teams in terms of trying to find another team who might give them an offer for Lillard, two other teams who might get involved might have nothing to do with Miami in a trade,” Fentress said on the Blazer Focused podcast.

“And maybe Lillard goes to one of those teams that’s out there. I’m told that there’s not great traction in these areas, that they’re really not being wowed by anything that’s substantial.

According to Phoenix sports insider and radio broadcaster John Gambadoro, there could be a resolution to the trade saga very soon though.

“Damian Lillard is going to get traded very soon… I’m expecting a Damian Lillard trade imminently,” Gambadoro said on Arizona Sports Radio.

“I would even say probably within the next 24 hours, I am expecting from what I’m hearing, a Damian Lillard trade.

Any potential Lillard trade could also have a flow-on effect on the future of Suns big man Deandre Ayton, according to Gambadoro.

Gambadoro took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to clear up speculation surrounding Ayton’s future at Phoenix.

“Let me address some of the Deandre Ayton rumours. The Suns have not been willing to move DA all summer because they think he fits well and there were no offers that would change that. If Nurkic was on the table I would be surprised if the Suns didn’t look into it because an argument could be made that is an upgrade for Phx,” wrote Gambadoro.

“This would be contingent on Dame being moved. Portland has previously shown no interest in DA but that was with Dame staying. If they do not have Dame on the roster they could very well want a young 25-year old to build around Vogel needs a defensive minded Center to build his defence around and Nurkic does fit that Mold. This would be contingent on a Lillard trade and I do expect that to happen very, very soon.”

It comes amid a report from Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports, claiming Phoenix has been described as a “dark horse” team to help facilitate a Lillard trade.

“While the Suns lack the assets and/or contracts to trade for Lillard or Harden themselves, one source referred to the Suns as a “mystery team” in regards to their potential involvement. Another called them a “dark horse” to help facilitate a deal as an additional party,” wrote Bourguet.