Inside The Heat

International NBA Reporter Says He Would Not Include Nikola Jovic In Damian Lillard Trade

Greek basketball writer Christos Tsaltas is among the growing number who think the Miami Heat should keep Nikola Jovic
Shandel Richardson|
International NBA Reporter Says He Would Not Include Nikola Jovic In Damian Lillard Trade
International NBA Reporter Says He Would Not Include Nikola Jovic In Damian Lillard Trade

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Miami Heat

Miami Heat rookie Nikola Jovic has spoken little publicly about him being dangled as bait in the trade for Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard. 

That hasn't stopped others from talking. 

Greek NBA reporter Christos Tsaltas, who works for Sportal, is impressed enough by Jovic's play in the FIBA World Cup to remove him from the trade package. 

Jovic had 25 points on 9 of 9 shooting in Wednesday's victory against South Sudan. 

"If I was Pat Riley, I wouldn't trade Nikola Jovic for Dame Lillard," Tsaltas said during an appearance on Tobin & LeRoy podcast on WQAM 560. "I would only trade Nikola Jovic for [Minnesota Timberwolves guard] Anthony Edwards, maybe." 

Tsaltas, who regularly covers the Heat in addition to his international duties, said he isn't surprised by Jovic's success. He's watched him rise through the ranks over the years. 

"He does so many things," Tsaltas said. "He's arguably the best player on this team ... He's amazing. He's all over the place. There are moments he reminds me a lot like the way Jimmy [Butler] takes over the game." 

And there you have it. 

Apparently, Jovic is the biggest winner from the World Cup so far. He's either played his way into a trade to the Blazers because they felt the Heat weren't offering enough or worked his way into a rotation spot in Miami. 

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Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat.

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Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star. TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here

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