Damian Lillard Might Have Eyes on a 76ers Rival

Not long before the 2023 NBA Draft, the NBA finally saw a frequent name on the league’s trading block get moved after years of speculation. When the Washington Wizards made Bradley Beal available, it wasn’t long before the Phoenix Suns swooped in and formed the league’s latest super team.

Could Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard be the next star to find a new home after hearing his name in trade rumors for the last few seasons? We’ll soon find out.

It’s no secret that Lillard’s patience is wearing thin in Portland. Although he remains loyal to the organization that selected him sixth overall in 2012, Lillard wants to ensure he’s playing for a contending squad at this point in his career.

Last season, the Blazers missed the playoffs for the second-straight year. After finishing with a 33-49 record, Portland entered the 2023 NBA Draft with the third-overall draft selection. For weeks, there was tons of speculation surrounding the pick, as Lillard was rumored to desire a trade for that scenario, hoping the Blazers would land a win-now type of player instead of bringing on a new rookie.

After Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller went off the board last Thursday night, the Blazers stayed on the clock and submitted a selection of Scoot Henderson. At that point, all eyes were right back on Damian Lillard, as many wondered whether or not he was willing to stick around or force a trade.

According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Lillard is expected to meet with the Blazers this week to discuss their path moving forward. The expectation is that Portland will assure Lillard they are going to look for key veterans in free agency to increase their chances of making a title run.

If the Blazers can’t convince Lillard they are on the right path once again, then a trade request could happen. If that’s the case, a key Philadelphia 76ers rival will be a team to keep an eye on.

Eyes on South Beach

“If there isn’t a meeting of the Trail Blazers minds in Portland this week, and if the roster upgrades that are proving so difficult to pull off don’t come to fruition when the calendar turns to July and the crucial week that follows, it’s all eyes on Miami from there,” wrote Sam Amick this week, regarding Lillard’s situation in Portland. “Lillard indeed has serious interest in joining the Heat, who would surely love to pair him with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. If it reaches this point — and there’s still an “if” here considering all the times Lillard chose not to ask out before — Lillard’s wishes would matter a great deal because of the enormity of his contract.”

Getting linked to some of the NBA’s most notable stars is nothing new for the Miami Heat. During the Beal sweepstakes, the Heat were viewed as one of the favorites to land the former Washington guard before he ultimately landed in Phoenix. Considering Beal had a no-trade clause in Washington, he seemingly chose the Suns over the Heat.

If the Blazers cooperate with Lillard and send the seven-time All-Star where he wants to go, then the league has to respect Miami as a potential landing spot.

For the Sixers and other Eastern Conference contenders, that’s not great news. The Heat didn’t seem to pose much of a threat throughout the 2022-2023 regular season despite coming off an Eastern Conference Finals run just last year. After finishing the season with a 44-38 record and barely cracking the eighth seed, the Heat were hardly respected.

The narrative changed instantly. After taking down the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in round one, the Heat pummeled the New York Knicks in round two. For the second-straight season, Miami met with the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals and found different results this time around.

Jimmy Butler couldn’t acquire his first championship ring after making it to the NBA Finals for the second time in his career, but Miami’s run proved they are in much better shape than expected for next year. Therefore, adding a star like Lillard after an improbable Finals run would surely put the East on notice for the 2023-2024 season.