Portland Trailblazers GM Joe Cronin Doesn’t Plan To Deliver Damian Lillard To The Miami Heat

The Portland Trailblazers have a clear message to the Miami Heat and the rest of the NBA: bring your best offer and make your team our preferred trade destination for Damian Lillard.

ESPN's NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Blazers are looking for the best offer possible.

"For teams calling about trading for Damian Lillard, the message from the Portland Trail Blazers has been unambiguous: Bring your best offer and make your team our preferred trade destination," Wojnarowski wrote. "General manager Joe Cronin doesn't plan to operate a transfer portal to the Miami Heat and dutifully deliver history's greatest Blazer to his targeted team."

Although Lillard has made it obvious that he is only willing to play for the Heat, that will not prevent the Blazers’ front office from accepting the best available offer. According to Wojnarowski, Cronin does not intend on trading Lillard to the Heat because it is his preferred destination.

"Ownership plans to honor Lillard's request for a trade, but Blazers officials are telling teams they'll move Lillard for only the deepest return of assets available," Wojnarowski said. "Portland is pursuing the sliding scale superstar package of desirable draft picks and high-level young players. For the summer, Cronin's betting the market over Miami.

Portland is not interested in giving up their all-time leading scorer for a package that will not help jumpstart their rebuild. Miami is reportedly hesitant to part ways with players including Caleb Martin and Jaime Jacquez Jr. to acquire Lillard.

"Executives talking to Cronin describe him as devoid of sentiment," Wojnaroski said. "Business for Lillard, business for the Blazers."

Since Lillard’s contract does not contain a no-trade clause, Portland has no desire to trade him for anything except the best available pool of assets.

Anthony Pasciolla is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at anthonypasciolla36@gmail.com or follow him on Tik Tok @anthonysports_