(Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images)
With the Portland Trail Blazers deciding to take Scoot Henderson with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft on Thursday night, the team may have signaled that they are ready to move on from superstar guard Damian Lillard.
Reportedly, Lillard told the team that he doesn’t want to go through a rebuilding process and struggle while playing alongside young and unproven players.
This is understandable, as he’s coming off arguably his best season in Portland, and the team didn’t even make the NBA playoffs.
With Lillard turning 33 next month, the perennial All-Star knows his window is closing in terms of being able to contend for a title in the league, and he may need to head elsewhere if he genuinely wants to win it all at some point in his playing career.
The one team that seems like the most likely destination for Lillard is the Miami Heat, with Nick Wright of Fox Sports mapping out an ideal trade scenario for both teams via First Things First.
.@getnickwright‘s Blazers-Heat Proposed Trade:
Heat receive: Dame
Blazers receive: Herro, Martin, Jovic, Jaquez Jr., 2027 1st round pick, 2029 1st round pick
Would you make this trade? pic.twitter.com/cSCT7VGrky
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) June 23, 2023
That’s a hefty price for the Heat to get Lillard in Miami, but ultimately, it might be the best move, as Jimmy Butler isn’t getting any younger either, and their window may be closing to win it all.
As for Portland, that’s quite the trade haul and might be good enough to get them into the playoffs or at least the Play-in Tournament next season, with Henderson leading the way for the franchise.
The clock is now ticking for the Blazers as they’ll have to figure out which way to go moving forward, and it might come down to Lillard simply saying he wants out.
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