Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has been the subject of a multitude of trade rumors since the start of the NBA offseason.
Among the teams interested in Lillard are the Heat, who reportedly are focused on a trade for the seven-time All-Star after missing out on Bradley Beal, who was dealt from the Wizards to the Suns on Sunday.
Jimmy Butler reportedly has been a key component of Miami’s recruiting pitch to the 32-year-old, whose future in Portland remains uncertain.
But on Monday, during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, Shams Charania of The Athletic indicated that Lillard is keen on remaining with the Blazers, should they find a way to improve their roster.
“Damian Lillard has really left it up to Portland. He wants to be there. He wants the team to get better,” said Charania.
“They have the No. 3 pick in the draft, the No. 23 pick in the draft, they have Anfernee Simons. What can you go get in the marketplace to make this team better? And if nothing comes about, I do think Damian Lillard would have to look very hard at his future in Portland.”
"Damian Lillard has left everything up to Portland..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 19, 2023
He wants to be there and he wants that team to get better" ~ @ShamsCharania #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/HdQSvygjzI
NBA journalist Marc Stein reported that Portland would be willing to package Simons with the No. 3 pick in order to acquire win-now talent while keeping Lillard as the team’s centerpiece.
If the Blazers fail to find adequate value in a pre-draft deal, however, Charania indicates a trade could become more likely and insisted the Heat would be atop the list of possible destinations.
