Bucks’ Took Damian Lillard, What Stopped Heat From Making A Move?

To put it another way, Damian Lillard’s trade to the Milwaukee Bucks has left the Miami Heat with significant losses.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the longstanding Portland Trail Blazers guard was unexpectedly dealt to the Bucks in a blockbuster deal that also included many other famous players, including as Jrue Holiday, DeAndre Ayton, and Jusuf Nurkic.

Bucks’ Took Damian Lillard, What Stopped Heat From Making A Move?

The great guard, 33, has made it clear time and time again that he wants to be moved to the Heat. Lillard wants to play in Miami, according to Aaron Goodwin, his agent, who spoke with Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

The Heat were “prepared to offer a package centered around Tyler Herro, with possibly Duncan Robinson and picks,” according to Haynes’ first report. According to Haynes, they didn’t want to bring Caleb Martin up in trade talks.

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Trail Blazers were “not impressed” with the Heat’s offer. The fact that they already possessed young guards in Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons made Herro less of a desirable focal point for a big-time trade.

In the event that a player or agent implied that the player would “not fully perform the services called for under his player contract in the event of a trade,” the league said it might impose severe sanctions.

The Bucks executed a three-team deal with the Suns and Trail Blazers without making a sound, shocking the NBA community.

Bucks receive:

  • Damian Lillard

Suns receive:

  • Grayson Allen
  • Keon Johnson
  • Nassir Little
  • Jusuf Nurkic

Trail Blazers receive:

  • Deandre Ayton
  • Toumani Camara
  • Jrue Holiday
  • 2029 unprotected first-round pick
  • 2028 unprotected swap rights
  • 2030 unprotected swap rights

Miami has made it to the NBA Finals twice in the last four seasons, spearheaded by the All-Star team of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Lillard was thought to be the missing component that would propel the Heat to the title, but they have lost both times.

But Portland made it plain that they would not be moving their seven-time All-Star guard for Tyler Herro and two first-round draft selections, even if that was the Heat’s offer.

The fact that Lillard was traded to the Bucks in exchange for a first-round selection and Ayton, a new star center, shows that the Blazers were not bluffing after all.

 

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