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Damian Lillard’s unwavering dedication to the Portland Trail Blazers has been commendable. He has stayed loyal to the Blazers over the past 11 years. Lillard is the franchise’s all-time leader in points, 3-pointers, and free throws. He also ranks well in minutes played and assists. Most recently, his decision to ask for a trade after his team failed to win any games in the Conference Finals has drawn attention.

Dame has been associated with multiple teams?including LeBron James‘ Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks. However, he has his sight set on Miami.

NBA veteran skeptical about Damian Lilard’s trade to Miami Heat

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With Damian Lillard stating his desire to play for Miami, the franchise’s pursuit of a trade for the star player of the Portland Trail Blazers has stepped up. Miami is still adamant about making a bold move. They have demonstrated a willingness to include anyone in a potential deal other than Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

And due to Lillard’s ardent desire to sign with Miami, other teams may decide against chasing the All-Star guard, perhaps lessening trade competition.

Meanwhile, an NBA veteran doubts whether this trade would be fruitful at all.

USA Today via Reuters

Gilbert Arenas in an episode of his podcast recently discussed this trade. “I don’t think they can win because all the guys that made uh Miami Heat moved, you’re not there,” Arenas said. “So where’s your bench?”

He continued, “It’s gonna take a few years for those guys to really have the kind of confidence that gave Vincent and all these guys had to come in and play that system. So it’s going to take them a few one or two years to get into that mojo playing just like it did with these guys. You got to turn that bullsh*t into something, right? So if you get YMCA you got to take years to make that sh*t into an actual player.”

As of now, the Miami Heat find themselves in a challenging position due to a lack of assets. It remains to be seen whether Dame will get to play alongside Butler. Meanwhile, he was also associated with joining LeBron’s Lakers.

Damian Lillard rumored to join the Lakers

Damian Lillard has been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers for a while. However, due to his past reluctance to trade, it was challenging to reach an agreement. The Lakers now have the chance to consider their alternatives since Lillard has now formally expressed his desire for a trade.

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The proposed deal was for Anthony Davis and Lillard to be traded straight up. The Trail Blazers would probably start the rebuilding process if Damian Lillard were to be dealt with. Even while buying a 30-year-old Davis might not initially seem desirable, there are some potential benefits.

First off, if Davis chooses to use his early termination option in his contract after the season, it may result in a significant financial windfall for Portland. The Trail Blazers would have the ability to effectively revamp their squad because of this financial flexibility.

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Watch This Story: Where Will Damian Lillard Go?

If both parties can find a good fit, Davis may be a long-term asset for the Trail Blazers because he is younger than Lillard. Size and defense, which Davis excels at, are things Portland has shown a need for.