Report: Damian Lillard Wants Out & the Jazz Are Interested
Portland Trail Blazers superstar point guard Damian Lillard sent shockwaves through the NBA this week. Lillard requested Trail Blazers trade him, the team with whom he spent the first 11 years of his career. Shortly after the trade request, The Athletic's Sam Amick floated the Utah Jazz among a long list of teams as having an interest in acquiring the soon-to-be 33-year-old.
The list of teams that have interest in Lillard is predictably long, and it’s known to include Philadelphia, the Clippers and Utah. As Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes reported, a third team would likely be necessary in a deal with the Heat. Miami would likely send guard Tyler Herro to Portland in a possible Lillard deal, but he makes little sense on a Blazers roster that is loaded with guards and would likely need to be re-routed to another team.
Lillard purportedly prefers to go to Miami to team up with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo for the reigning Eastern Conference Champions. Despite this, the Jazz could certainly top any offer Miami could make.
Portland is rumored to be looking for a package of draft assets and young players in return, two things the Jazz have an abundance of. How much of that would Jazz CEO Danny Ainge and GM Justin Zanik feel comfortable giving up for a player whose best years may be behind him?
The Jazz have a glaring need for creation and passing on their currently constructed roster. After a season averaging 32.2 points and 7.3 assists, Lillard would more than solve that problem.
The price of adding Lillard may prove to be too steep for the rebuilding Jazz, though. Lillard is owed upward of $215 million over the next four years.
The former Weber State Wildcat has long been a fan favorite of basketball fans within the state of Utah. Lillard spent four years in Ogden and is now a member of the Weber State Hall of Fame.
The Jazz have the assets to make a serious run at bringing Lillard back to a place where he’s previously thrived; whether or not that fits into Utah’s timetable is the question.
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