The Portland Trail Blazers have stepped up talks with other NBA teams this week as the training camp approaches, aiming to get the best possible return for Damian Lillard, a seven-time All-Star, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Since the initial discussions in July following Lillard”s trade request, no deal was reached with his preferred destination of Miami or other potential landing spots like Brooklyn. As the training camp and media day on October 2nd approached, it became an unofficial deadline for Portland to move on from Lillard and start a new era for the Blazers.
The Blazers possess promising young talents in lottery picks Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, along with the 24-year-old scorer Anfernee Simons. Reacquiring Lillard, who is 33 with over $200 million remaining on his contract, especially after a public trade request, contradicts the idea of Portland turning the page to a new chapter with the current core players.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, there”s an ongoing situation with James Harden hoping to be traded to the LA Clippers. Harden”s situation is different from Lillard”s, as there”s still hope that he might report to camp, play for a title contender, and increase his trade value. However, it”s complicated due to Harden”s statement that he won”t be part of an organization with Philadelphia”s president, Daryl Morey.
Joe Cronin: “In any deal, the goal is to come out with the best outcome. It could be more of a win-now player. It could be a young player and picks. It could be just picks. There’s no set parameters.”
In the Sixers” camp, more developments are expected, either in their New Jersey practice facility or during their training camp in Colorado Springs. On the other hand, Portland”s situation seems to be progressing towards a resolution, with talks involving potential trade partners outside of Lillard”s preferred Heat.
Toronto and Chicago have been the two destinations for Lillard discussed most frequently, although some expect Portland to engage Miami before finalizing a deal with another team. Still, the Heat have not been central in the recent Lillard trade discussions. Phoenix and Utah have emerged as peripheral teams that could participate in larger deals involving Lillard”s departure from the Blazers.
Recent reports suggest that the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns are among the teams that could help facilitate multi-team deals for Lillard. Utah is particularly interested in potentially acquiring Tyler Herro from the Miami Heat, Lillard”s preferred destination, and there is interest from multiple teams in taking the best package the Heat might offer.
As for the Suns, Portland may be interested in acquiring center Deandre Ayton as part of a multi-team deal for Lillard. The former No. 1 overall pick could provide another defensive anchor to the Suns” backline rotation.
Despite the ongoing trade saga, Lillard remains with the Blazers nearly three months after his trade request, with the regular season just around the corner, scheduled to begin on October 25th. A move to the Heat seems less likely, and other teams like the Bulls and Raptors have entered the mix. As the standoff continues, Damian Lillard remains a Blazer for now
