Damian Lillard could potentially find himself a part of another blockbuster deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. Since the start of July, the 7x All-Star has been waiting to find a new home. He requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers as he wasn’t on the same page as them in terms of future plans. Even though the Blazers have been trying to find a viable deal for the superstar, none of the packages have attracted their interest as yet.
According to several sources, it seems as if Lillard is dead set on joining the Miami Heat. He certainly believes that the Heat could help him fulfill his wishes to become an NBA champion. Miami has been playing exceptionally well of late. In the last four years, they’ve made two finals appearances. Not to mention how well Jimmy Butler has been performing too. Miami is most likely a piece away from solidifying its place in history. Unfortunately, none of what the Heat has offered the Blazers has worked out.
Damian Lillard will not report to training camp if he’s traded to a destination other than Miami, per @ShamsCharania
“If a team, like Toronto for instance, were to trade for Damian Lillard, I do not believe Lillard would even report.”
(Via @TheRally ) pic.twitter.com/bZyyh6COuz
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 11, 2023
Now with training camp quickly approaching, the Blazers have very limited options to work with. Luckily, both parties have shown interest in working with each other through training camp. Experts claim that Damian Lillard will only participate in training camp with the Blazers or the Heat. And that he would not do the same if he were traded to any other franchise.
The Lakers could trade Austin Reaves along with valuable players and a pick for Damian Lillard
We all are aware that Damian Lillard holds high regard for LeBron James. In the past, Lillard has been linked in trade rumors with the Lakers. Now, having someone of Lillard’s caliber join the Lakers will be a blockbuster move. An insider recently proposed a trade involving Lakers standout Austin Reaves along with D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and a 2029 first-round pick. LA will lose out on a bit of depth but it may benefit them in their championship quest.
Last season, Damian Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. Additionally, he also shot 46.3% from the field, 37.1% from deep, and 91.4% from the foul line. There are many ways Lillard could help the Lakers go all the way. Firstly, LeBron will be turning 39 years old by the end of this year. He will not be able to carry the team entirely and will need assistance from someone reliable.
This doesn’t mean Anthony Davis isn’t enough. LeBron and Davis are arguably one of the best duos in the league at the moment. It was because of them that the Lakers were able to achieve a deep playoff run last season. However, Davis is quite an injury-prone player. In his absence, Damian Lillard can carry the team offensively thus reducing their chances of losing consecutive games.
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