Damian Lillard?s Trade Saga Takes a New Turn, as the Portland Star Reportedly Has a Change of Heart, Months After Asking for a Miami Trade

The NBA off-season is reaching the end and all the excitement for the new season is palpable. The NBA air has been a whirlwind of speculation and anticipation. And this is especially around Damian Lillard which is arguably the most anticipated trade of this season. Fans are eagerly waiting for the new big move. The seven-time All-Star Portland guard has made it clear he wants to be traded. His clutch performances are leadership on the court, couldn?t get him a championship. It was a feeling that would stay with him after being the franchise’s most important player who played there for over a decade.?

As the training camp approaches, rumors about Lillard?s destination team are even more intensifying. Lillard has narrowed down his preferences to just one team, The Miami Heat. As the narrative is unfolding, a recent report suggests that he might be open to being traded to any team, marking a significant shift in the rumors.?

The Trade Rumors Heat Up

As the training camp is heating up, the NBA world is filled with speculation about potential trade destinations, it appears Lillard?s preference is clear: he wants to stay in Portland or head to Miami. However, the trade saga is shaping up a new twist has emerged, NBA insider Shams Charania suggested ?I?m told the only two training camps that Damian Lillard would report to, in theory, Portland and Miami,?.?

He continued, ?So, if a team like Toronto, for instance, were to trade for Damian Lillard, I do not believe Lillard would even report. I believe that standing trade request would still be there if here were to be traded to a team like Toronto, or anyone else really that wants to take a chance at this situation?. However, the situation is even messier, as Dame seems to be having a change of heart after the NBA?s involvement.?

What about Dame’s involvement with Heat?

The NBA?s involvement in the trade saga came after he publicly expressed his wish to play for Miami. The league had sent out a memo to all 30 teams stating that Lillard could face a fine if he or his agent indicated, publicly or privately, to teams that Lillard would ?not fully perform the services called for under his player contract in the event of a trade?.

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This move by the NBA seems to have made Dame consider the idea of being traded to any team. This development puts both the Blazers and the Heat in interesting positions. For the Blazers, retaining their star player would be their deepest desire. However, as the trade is inevitable, the Heat has been pursuing Lillard all season. They?ve reportedly made an offer that included multiple first-round picks and young players. It remains to be seen whether they can finally strike a deal.

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