The status of the “hot potato” Damian Lillard (Portland) is still a bit of a fog. With Portland and Miami’s negotiations at a standstill, local media have been speculating on Lillard’s future.
Local media outlet ESPN published an article on Friday (Feb. 15) listing teams that could be interested in Lillard and offering specific cards. “Portland Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin will want the best package, not just from the 스포츠토토 Miami Heat, but from any team. With no solution in sight, experts weighed in with their best cards,” ESPN explained.
The first team mentioned was Miami. This is the team that Lillard is reportedly looking to join and the team that actually traded cards with Portland.
ESPN suggested four players plus a pick. Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic would go to Miami and Tyler Hiro, Kyle Lowry, Jamie Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic would wear Portland’s colors. Portland would also receive the rights to swap first-round picks in 2027 and 2029 and first-round picks in 2028 and 2030.
According to ESPN, “Given Lillard’s age (33) and remaining salary ($216.2 million over four years), the team making the trade would have to be a championship contender and have a piece of Portland’s interest. One team that has both is Miami. If they can get Hiro, Jaquez Jr. and a pick for Jovic, Portland gets the present and the future. It should be a trade similar in size to the one the Minnesota Timberwolves made to acquire Rudy Gobert.”
Some experts have suggested a triangular trade involving the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers. James Harden has publicly called for a move to the Clippers, so a triangle trade would be a viable option.
In this case, Philadelphia would get Lillard, Terrence Mann, Norman Powell, and Robert Covington. The Clippers get Harden and Tobias Harris. Portland gets Perkan Corkmaz, Tyreese Maxey, Jaden Springer, Nicolas Batum, Amir Coffey, Marcus Morris and the Clippers’ 2028 and 2030 first-round picks.
According to ESPN, “Philadelphia is also a team that can contend for a championship with reigning MVP Joel Embiid. To get Lillard, they’ll need to utilize Maxi, whose value has peaked as a trade chip. Add in Mann and Powell, both 3-and-D types, and you’ve got yourself a formidable frontcourt.”
Andre Snellings suggested a trade of Lillard for Zion Williamson. In Snellings’ version of the trade, Lillard and Nurkic would go to the New Orleans Pelicans. Portland gets Williamson, Dyson Daniels, Kira Lewis Jr, Larry Nance Jr, and Najee Marshall. Others have suggested a trade that would see Toronto acquire Lillard in exchange for O.G. Anunoby, Chris Boucher, Ted Young, Grady Dick and two first-round picks.
