The rumours of a possible Damian Lillard trade to the Miami Heat had faded by then, with so much animosity between Lillard’s former team, the Blazers, and the Heat front office—which showed little interest in assembling a star-studded package for Lillard—that it seemed impossible for people in Portland and Miami to even shake hands, much less trade a star player.
They really didn’t do either. The Blazers traded Lillard to Milwaukee, and Heat manager Pat Riley maintained that the team never made the alleged offer on Lillard—one that was centred on Tyler Herro. Not only did the Heat not acquire Lillard, but they also did not receive the $207 million that was left on his contract.
All things considered, Lillard’s tenure in Milwaukee has been objectively dismal, despite some ups and downs. Despite his All-Star selection and his average of 24.4 points, 7.0 assists, and 4.4 rebounds, the Bucks have fallen from 58 victories to 49 going into the season’s last game. He has only shot 42.7% from the field.
Wes Goldberg, a Heat analyst and the host of the team’s podcast, “Locked on Heat,” notices this and thinks perhaps it’s time to start a new Heat-Lillard rumour.
Damian Lillard Not Yet on the Trade Market
To be clear, even though it is obvious that Lillard has not fit well with the squad, there have been no rumours that the Bucks are looking to let him go. Despite a 30-13 start, the Bucks dismissed coach Adrian Gryphon, and since Doc Rivers took over, they have only gone 17–18.
Due in large part to his notorious defensive flaws, Lillard has been held accountable for the Bucks’ defensive decline this season, as they now rank 19th in the NBA with 115.0 points allowed per 100 possessions. The Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks will be missing the playoffs due to a serious calf injury. It’s impossible to predict when or how much he will play. Milwaukee might then be at risk of losing in the first round of the playoffs, as they did the previous season.
“Perhaps the Bucks could be persuaded into trading Lillard to build a slightly younger, more complete roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo (who will be 30 next season) to help extend his championship window,” Goldberg wrote at All U Can Heat if that occurs.
It’s unlikely that the Bucks would receive the same return as the Trail Blazers did in the previous season if they were to consider offers for Lillard. Although he is still an All-Star, a dangerous floor spacer, and a high-octane scorer, Lillard is exhibiting signs of ageing at the age of 33.
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