A Damian Lillard trade will happen this summer. Sure, the Portland Trail Blazers are playing hardball with the seven-time All-Star and interested teams. But it’s clear that Lillard will not be a member of the Blazers.
As Sportsnaut’s Mark Medina reported recently, Lillard is unlikely to report to training camp in September unless he’s traded to the Miami Heat.
“He just wouldn’t go,” a person familiar with Lillard’s thinking told Sportsnaut. “He just wouldn’t report.”
This hasn’t stopped other teams from putting in trade calls to the Blazers for the high-scoring future Hall of Famer. Perhaps, teams will call his bluff. There’s also a chance that Lillard himself changes his stance with multiple championship contenders interested in the guard.
Here, we look at the five teams most linked to Lillard in trade talks and the most realistic offers they can make to Portland for Lillard.
Related: Updated NBA trade tracker with grades
Miami Heat offer up Tyler Herro as centerpiece
- Heat get: Damian Lillard, Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little
- Blazers get: Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Kyle Lowry, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., 2 1st-round picks
We’ve read reports that the Blazers are looking to attach the remainder of Jusuf Nurkic’s contract to any Lillard trade. If not, they might have to unload him to another team in a salary dump that would require sending additional assets out of town. In this scenario, Portland pretty much saves itself $33 million over the next three seasons by moving Nurkic for Lowry’s expiring contract.
From a broader perspective, the Blazers add Miami’s two most-recent first-round picks in Jovic and Jaquez Jr. to the frontcourt on a roster that is wingy-heavy. They will also be able to flip Herro for more assets. Recent reports indicate that the Brooklyn Nets could be interested in the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year. Add in two future lightly protected first-round picks, and this would be a boon for the rebuilding Blazers.
Brooklyn Nets use Ben Simmons to pull off Damian Lillard trade
- Nets get: Damian Lillard
- Blazers gets: Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton, Noah Clowney, Dariq Whitehead, 3 1st-round picks, 2 picks swaps
Brooklyn is one of the teams that has been linked to Lillard outsid of the Heat. This is somewhat complicated with Nets general manager Sean Mark unwilling to offer up star forward Mikal Bridges in a trade.
In no way does this mean that the Nets can’t put together a strong package for the future Hall of Famer. In this scenario, Portland picks up both of the Nets’ two first-round picks in the 2023 NBA Draft. It also adds one of the best young centers in the game, Nic Claxton, to the mix. The Blazers need to round out their wing-heavy roster.
Meanwhile, taking on the remainder of Simmons’ contract not only saves the Blazers north of $120 million long-term in comparison to Lillard’s deal, but it also nets Portland more draft capital for its troubles.
Blockbuster Jaylen Brown trade with the Boston Celtics
- Celtics get: Damian Lillard, Jusuf Nurkic, 1st-round pick
- Blazers get: Jaylen Brown, Malcolm Brogdon
Boston does not have the draft assets to offer up to Portland for Lillard. This makes is nearly impossible for the team to acquire the star guard as a running mate with Jayson Tatum unless it moves Brown. While recent indications are that Brown will sign a super-max extension in Boston, this past season saw a ton of drama unfold between the wing and his organization. It led to some trade speculation.
What we do know is that the Celtics are in on Lillard. President Brad Stevens is certainly working on something on this front. In this scenario, Boston adds Lillard and another big to go with the recently acquired Kristaps Porzingis. It also picks up an additional first-round pick from Portland.
As for the Blazers, they’d be able to either look to contend with Brown as the centerpiece or flip the All-NBA performer for a ton of young players and future assets. We’re talking about trade compensation that would rival any in the recent history of the NBA.
Related: Damian Lillard and the NBA’s top-50 players of 2023
Golden State Warriors end up flipping Chris Paul again
- Warriors get: Damian Lillard, Keon Johnson
- Blazers get: Chris Paul, Jonathan Kuminga, Gary Payton II, Brandin Podziemski, 3 1st-round picks, 2 pick swaps
First off, Paul can’t be traded to another team until early September unless it’s a one-for-one deal. Secondly, Golden State remains a highly unlikely landing spot despite Lillard’s interest in returning to his native Bay Area. Finally, this isn’t the best package an interested team can offer up to Portland.
Even then, there has to be some long-term intrigue on the Blazers’ part. They pick up a talented young 21-year-old forward in Kuminga who has displayed flashes of brilliance through two seasons and is nowhere near hitting his prime.
As for the draft picks, it would be Portland playing the long game. One of the picks would be unprotected with the other two lightly protected. Given the advanced age of the Warriors’ core group, these could end up being high first-round picks down the road.
Related: Updated NBA trade rumors
Philadelphia 76ers pull off blockbuster Damian Lillard trade
- 76ers get: Damian Lillard
- Blazers get: Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, 1st-round pick, 2 pick swaps, multiple 2nd-round picks
If Lillard heads to Philadelphia, it stands to reason that the 76ers would have to grant James Harden his trade request first. It would give the team more capital to offer up to the Blazers.
Though, front office head Daryl Morey’s decision not to sign Maxey to a contract extension this summer is interesting. Recent rumblings indicate that said decision could be a prelude to a trade. If so, Maxey is the most valuable asset any team in the mix could offer up to the Blazers. We’re talking about a potential franchise cornerstone who averaged 20.3 points on 43% shooting from distance during his Age-22 season.