Kofi Inkoom
Miami Heat’s trade offer for Damian Lillard, which featured Tyler Herro and a pair of first-round draft picks, has been described as unattractive by insiders. This could be the principal reason why the Portland Trail Blazers have shown a lack of interest in engaging in meaningful trade discussions with the Heat.
The NBA offseason has seen significant buzz surrounding the Portland Trail Blazers, primarily due to their star point guard, Damian Lillard, officially expressing his desire to be traded from the organization.
Despite Lillard’s trade request, where he openly voiced his preference for joining the Miami Heat, it’s been nearly three months since the request went public, and there have been no substantial trade talks between these two teams, according to insider sources.
A recent report from Marc Spears revealed that the Miami Heat made an offer that included sharpshooter Tyler Herro and two valuable first-round draft picks as part of a trade package.
However, this hasn’t been enough to entice the Trail Blazers, who are now exploring other options and organizations with more appealing assets.
Interestingly, the Toronto Raptors have emerged as a contender in the Damian Lillard sweepstakes.
With the imminent arrival of training camp and the Trail Blazers actively seeking a trade for Lillard, the Miami Heat may need to reconsider their offer, given Lillard’s strong desire to play for them, which puts them in a favorable position compared to other potential suitors.
“If Damian Lillard does get traded to the Raptors, he’ll be a professional and WILL show up/play for the team.” –@MarcJSpears pic.twitter.com/IpYyVmozsn
— NBArepublic.com (@nba_republic) September 25, 2023
On the Raptors’ side, there’s speculation, as suggested by Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, that they may be hesitant to include assets like Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes in any potential deal.
Recent reports also hint at the Trail Blazers showing interest in the Raptors’ 2023 first-round pick, Gradey Dick, suggesting that a trade might be in the works.
MORE: Blazers Expecting Miami Heat to go All-in for Damian Lillard
While reports indicate that Lillard might entertain the idea of requesting a trade back to the Miami Heat if he ends up elsewhere, Marc Spears offers the perspective that should Lillard find himself traded to the Raptors, he will approach the situation professionally and honor his commitment to the team.
“If Damian Lillard does get traded to the Raptors, he’ll be a professional and WILL show up/play for the team.” –@MarcJSpears pic.twitter.com/IpYyVmozsn
— NBArepublic.com (@nba_republic) September 25, 2023
Should Lillard, a seasoned 33-year-old and seven-time NBA All-Star, find himself traded to the Toronto Raptors, the Miami Heat could find themselves questioning their failure to present the Portland Trail Blazers with a compelling trade package.
At 23 years of age, Tyler Herro is a promising talent known for his remarkable shooting abilities. He’s often touted as a potential future NBA All-Star. However, it seems that Herro’s skill set may not align with the Blazers’ current rebuilding phase.
Tyler Herro has amassed an impressive 242 NBA appearances as a member of the Miami Heat. Throughout his tenure with the Heat, he has consistently delivered noteworthy statistics, including an average of 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.