Is Damian Lillard going to the Heat? Exploring the rumor mill and Miami's best trade package

Stephen Noh

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Is Damian Lillard going to the Heat? Exploring the rumor mill and Miami's best trade package image

Will Damian Lillard get traded to the Miami Heat? His name has been in trade talks seemingly forever, and the rumors involving him going to the Heat have been nonstop this offseason. 

Here's where we're at with Lillard's trade rumors before free agency kicks off: 

A long list of Damian Lillard Heat rumors 

The Lillard-Heat rumors started kicking up after comments he made on Showtime's "The Last Stand." He was asked which one of the Heat, Knicks, or Nets he would want to go to. 

"Miami obviously," Lillard answered. "Miami is the obvious one, and Bam [Adebayo] is my dog. Bam is my dog for real. I mean, I think Miami is the obvious one. Brooklyn is another obvious one because Mikal Bridges is my dog too. And both have capable rosters."

Those rumors picked up again after the draft. According to Bleacher Report and TNT's Chris Haynes, Lillard was planning on having a serious conversation about getting moved if the Blazers held onto the third pick in this year's draft rather than moving it for veteran help.

A day after Scoot Henderson was selected with that pick, Lillard posted an Instagram Live video of himself listening to the song "Welcome to Miami." 

Lillard's agent Aaron Goodwin denied that there was anything behind the video, telling The Athletic that the music was "just a coincidence." 

The rumor mill continued to heat up on Monday, when The Athletic's Sam Amick wrote that Lillard "has serious interest in joining the Heat, who would surely love to pair him with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo." 

Lillard was set to meet with Blazers management on Monday. According to The Rose Garden Report's Sean Highkin, that meeting went well. 

How could the Heat land Damian Lillard?

The Heat have the pieces to make a compelling offer for Lillard. Tyler Herro would likely be involved in any trade, if for no other reason than salary matching. So would Duncan Robinson or Kyle Lowry. 

Former no. 27 pick in the 2022 draft Nikola Jovic could have some trade value. Jovic didn't play much as a 19-year-old rookie, but he still has some decent promise. 

The Heat selected Jaime Jaquez Jr. out of UCLA with the 18th pick in the 2023 draft. They also have their 2028 and 2030 first round picks available to trade, and a number of second rounders and swaps. 

A package of Herro, Robinson, Jovic, Jaquez, two first round picks, and various second rounders/swaps is likely the best that the Heat could offer. 

Stephen Noh

Stephen Noh Photo

Stephen Noh started writing about the NBA as one of the first members of The Athletic in 2016. He covered the Chicago Bulls, both through big outlets and independent newsletters, for six years before joining The Sporting News in 2022. Stephen is also an avid poker player and wrote for PokerNews while covering the World Series of Poker from 2006-2008.