B/R Lists Jazz as Potential Suitor to ‘Risk’ a Damian Lillard Trade

The NBA is typically a league that moves at an extremely rapid pace. Constant drastic changes within rosters, standings, or whatever it may be that always pins this league as a very fluid one each year.

Unfortunately, this NBA offseason’s trade saga between Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers has been anything but fast.

With Lillard’s stark request to be sent only to the asset-lacking Miami Heat, it’s demotivated almost any incentive for the Trail Blazers to make any trade happen. Having only a few mid-firsts and a couple of young players with limited upside to put into a package, the Heat simply do not have what Blazers’ GM Joe Cronin would desire as the return for a perennial All-Star guard.

This makes everything a bit foggy for the rest of the 28 teams that could look to jump on the tantalizing opportunity. A top 20-level player is clearly up for grabs on the market, but the underlying chance of bringing on a pricey, injury-riddled, unhappy superstar has been a consistent barrier for any franchise that could even have the slightest interest across the past few weeks.

Still, that has not stopped any predictions or rumors persistently floating around to enter some other wildcards teams into the Dame sweepstakes. One of those wildcards just so happens to be the Utah Jazz. Considering the current lack of an elite point guard on the roster combined with immense future assets, Utah will always be a team to keep on the radar within any blockbuster trade whispers.

Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey laid out some of the logistics of a Dame trade to the Jazz for fans, despite Lillard showing little signs of letting up from his direct request for a deal involving only the Heat:

Given his age (33 now and 36 after his player option) and contract (that player option pays $63.2 million in 2026-27), moving young players and draft picks for him could end badly. Depending on the price, though,

the resulting team could absolutely be on that "if everything breaks right, they have a chance to win it all” level.

...Pairing Lillard with [Lauri Markkanen] would instantly give Utah one of the most dynamic offensive duos in basketball. And if Walker Kessler remained to anchor the defense, the Jazz would have the makings of something special.

It's far from a no-brainer, given the continued toughness of the Western Conference, but Utah has the assets (thanks to the Mitchell and Gobert deals) and upside to sell its fanbase on a Lillard trade.

Seeing the trade transition from a Heat-centric deal into a move that revolves around the Jazz would be a miraculous site to see, to put things lightly. Utah seems to be moving into next season with their incoming roster without any indication of a major move to happen. Still, we know how unpredictable the league can be with storylines shifting during each passing day, so every possibility is still on the table.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania’s most recent report details that things have yet to change much between the everlasting feud between the Trail Blazers and the Heat when it comes to making forward progress on a trade involving Lillard:

"There still is no traction from the Portland Trail Blazers on a Lillard trade, and the All-NBA star’s mindset is steadfast toward desiring a trade only to the Miami Heat. Ever since early July, sources involved in discussions who are unauthorized to speak on the matter said the Heat have been prepared to offer the Trail Blazers a package including three to four first-round picks — with Tyler Herro going to a third team for assets — expiring contracts, a young player such as Nikola Jović and potentially second-round picks and draft swaps."

Without any movement from the Heat, this gives opposing teams another opportunity to find their way as a dark horse into a deal. With the hesitancy Portland has shown up to this point to do any business with the Heat, seeing a pivot to another team and the package would not be unrealistic.

Over two months remain until the 2023-24 NBA season is officially underway, giving each side all the time they need for a move to happen. Damian Lillard could very well inevitably get his wish to play in South Beach, but it’s far from a sure thing at this point in the summer.

Follow Inside The Jazz on Facebook and Twitter.

Subscribe on YouTube for breaking Jazz news videos and live-stream podcasts!