Portland Trailblazers icon Damian Lillard has been the flagbearer of loyalty over the years. However, disappointing results and the front office’s resistance to pairing Lillard with a star might just push their top scorer out of the team. The NBA free agency is right around the corner and teams will be looking to make moves. Interestingly, the Miami Heat have emerged as a surprising candidate for Lillard’s signature.

This comes just days after the Trailblazers benefited from a major draft night fiasco by NBA legend Michael Jordan. As reports suggest, a pairing of Jimmy Butler and Lillard might well be on the cards.

Damian Lillard might be on his way to the 2023 NBA finalists

The Heat led by Butler, Bam Adebayo, and others, had a fairytale postseason run to make it to the 2023 NBA Finals. However, Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets were too much to handle for the team from South Beach.

Adding Lillard to their roster might change the Heat’s fortunes. Not only is the franchise interested, it seems, but the player is also keen on making the switch.

According to sources, “Lillard indeed has a serious interest in joining the Heat, who would surely love to pair him with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.”

A Lillard trade request looks more than imminent now unless the Trailblazers make some blockbuster moves. One such trade which might keep the 7-time All-Star on the team might be Draymond Green. The four-time NBA champion might be leaving the Golden State Warriors and is yet to decide on his future.

READ MORE: A Day After Viral “Miami” Clip, Damian Lillard Spotted Enjoying Star-Studded Event With Draymond Green in Paris

Moreover, re-signing Jerami Grant might also be the way forward for the Trailblazers. While the Green trade might look great on paper, the team has to sort out their salary issues first. Currently, the team cannot afford to sign the former Defensive Player of the Year.

The Trailblazers recently got a huge draft boost

G-League Ignite star Scoot Henderson was touted to be the #2 overall pick behind Victor Wembanyama. The fans were in for a surprise as former Hornets owner Michael Jordan made a huge decision.

The Hornets drafted Alabama star Brandon Miller instead of Henderson as the #2 pick. Scoot Henderson was then drafted by the Portland Trailblazers as the #3 pick and will be sporting 00 for them. While there is no way to predict what the future holds for the two youngsters, fans have bashed Jordan for this decision.

WATCH THIS STORY: Damian Lillard drops a time bomb on his NBA future.

What are your thoughts on the Damian Lillard saga? Let us know in the comments below.