Toronto Raptors Contesting Miami Heat In Pursuit Of Damian Lillard
The Toronto Raptors lost All-Star point guard Fred VanVleet in free agency, leading them to show interest in Portland Trail Blazers superstar guard Damian Lillard.
Podcast host and NBA writer, Matt Moore, recently reported on Toronto's interest on the Locked On NBA podcast.
"That's the thing nobody's really saying," Moore said. "But everyone around the league kinda knows that the Raptors are amongst the teams."
This could cause problems for the Miami Heat because of Portland’s lack of interest in their package. The Raptors have multiple valuable assets, including OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr., and first-round picks.
This offer would pull more interest from the Blazers front office, however, the question remains is Lillard willing to play elsewhere?
A core built around Lillard, Scottie Barnes, and Pascal Siakam would compete in the Eastern Conference but may struggle against sizable teams such as the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers.
The location may also cause problems on Lillard’s end, as Toronto is known for their cold weather and quiet environment. On the other hand, Miami is known for its warm weather and nightlife.
As the three-month mark of Lillard’s request grows closer, Portland may become eager to trade him to the Heat in order to begin their rebuild.
HEAT-RELATED STORIES
Kevin Love speaks on Jimmy Butler, Damian Lillard. CLICK HERE
Miami Heat City Edition jerseys leaked. CLICK HERE
Joakim Noah says Jimmy Butler sacrifices plenty in offseason. CLICK HERE
For a look at some of the latest Heat apparel. CLICK HERE
Anthony Pasciolla is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or follow him on Instagram @anthonypasci
