Afraid of a Failed Damian Lillard Pursuit, 2x NBA Champion Coach Sheds Light on Upcoming Season: “We’re Bringing Back…”

Damian Lillard has made his intentions clear. He no longer wants to be with the Portland Trail Blazers. After spending a decade there, he is finally ready to say goodbye. He had an illustrious career there and made a bunch of All-Star teams. He is the leading all-time scorer for the Franchise, a record that will take a long time to break. However, the lack of playoff success has led him elsewhere.

He is oddly specific about his choice; Miami Heat.

Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers, and Heat in a tricky situation

Wouldn’t the Trail Blazers expect a big return for Lillard? After all, they gave him a massive four-year $176 million deal in 2021. The team took a big cap hit but the Guard who has averaged as much as 30 Points Per Game is more than worth that price in the current market.

Therefore, in the face of such a high-value guard, they would want a package that boosts their future prospects. Lillard is 33 but can still ball out, however, with injuries being a concern and him going in his mid-30s, is he a safe bet for the Heat?

Consider this, Tyler Herro is 23 and has averaged 20 points a game in the last two seasons. While not being a shot-creator like Dame, he definitely has the potential to become a 25+ PPG scorer.

If the Trail Blazers have asked for him and are not budging on that demand, what will the Heat do? Will there be a third team involved?

It will be tough to let him go, but is there any way around this apart from that? This is why Trail Blazers’ GM Joe Cronin stated, “If it takes months, it takes months”.

Therefore, relying solely on this trade can’t be the way forward for the defensive-minded Heat squad.

In this wake, Erik Spoelstra’s comments make a lot of sense. What if the Lillard trade fails?

Spoelstra is focusing on building with what they already have

Last season, genius coach Spoelstra took an eight-seeded Heat to the Finals, beating the top seeds in the East. He knows how to get the best out of a squad. When he was in Abu Dhabi as USA’s Assistant Coach, he talked to ESPN. When asked what is the plan was if the Lillard deal doesn’t pan out, as per Miami Herald, he replies, “We had most of our work done. We’re bringing back the majority of our players and that’s a luxury in this league.”

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Labeling this as not a common occurrence, the 2012 & 2013 champion coach went on, “Things are so transient, things are moving fast. It seems like it’s moving faster now than even four, five, six years ago. We feel great about our group“. This showcases his trust in the squad that exceeded expectations last season.

Do you think the Lillard trade may fall apart? Do share in the comments below.

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