The Damian Lillard saga continues.
The seven-time All-Star requested a trade from the Trail Blazers in July, and yet he remains on the team with the start of the 2023-24 season now less than a month away.
It's no secret that the Heat are at the top of Lillard's wish list. Will he get what he wants?
The Sporting News is tracking the biggest rumors surrounding Lillard and his trade request below.
MORE: Analyzing Damian Lillard's trade request from Portland
Damian Lillard trade rumors: Tracking latest news and updates on Trail Blazers star
Raptors interest in Damian Lillard real but overstated
Date: Sept. 25
Rumor: Toronto's interest in Damian Lillard is real but also "a bit overstated at this point." The Trail Blazers could be feeling the heat with training camp quickly approaching and trying to create some leverage, hence this "sudden uptick of teams reportedly registering interest."
Reported by: Josh Lewenberg, TSN
Raptors now front-runners for Damian Lillard
Date: Sept. 25
Rumor: According to two high-ranking NBA team executives, the Raptors are currently the front-runners to trade for Lillard. Despite recent conversations, "no pact was close to being imminent as of Monday morning."
Along with the Raptors and Heat, the Bucks, Celtics, 76ers and Bulls have shown interest in Lillard since his trade request. The Heat are said to have initially offered a package including Tyler Herro and two first-round picks.
Reported by: Marc J. Spears, ESPN
Raptors and possibly Magic in the mix for Damian Lillard
Date: Sept. 25
Rumor: The Raptors are "very much in the mix" for Lillard and seem "at least reasonably confident" they can jump ahead of the Heat and Nets to the front of the line.
The Magic are another team that could be heard from in the Lillard sweepstakes.
Reported by: Michael Grange, Sportsnet
Raptors have 'genuine' interest in Damian Lillard
Date: Sept. 24
Rumor: The Raptors have convinced "numerous teams around the league" that they have a genuine interest in trading for Lillard. However, Lillard is believed to be "so resistant to the idea of becoming a Raptor," making it uncertain if Toronto will go all-in on the seven-time All-Star.
Reported by: Marc Stein, Substack
Damian Lillard trade could involve three or four teams
Date: Sept. 22
Rumor: With the 2023-24 season on the horizon, the Trail Blazers have "increased conversations with rival front offices" about possible Lillard trades.
The Raptors are now considered to be "one of, if not the most viable threats to land Lillard outside of the Heat." Toronto has made it clear that Scottie Barnes is the franchise's focal point and Pascal Siakam wouldn't likely be included in a Lillard trade, making Gradey Dick the possible centerpiece.
Chicago has also been mentioned as a possible destination for Lillard.
Two teams that could factor into larger deals are the Suns and Jazz. The Trail Blazers have had interest in Suns center Deandre Ayton in the past while the Jazz could be interested in Heat guard Tyler Herro.
Reported by: Jake Fischer, Yahoo Sports
No Damian Lillard trade imminent
Date: Sept. 22
Rumor: The Trail Blazers are "certainly behaving like a team that wants to get a deal done" before training camp, but no deal is imminent. The Heat have not been a part of recent talks, though that could change quickly.
Reported by: Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN
Secret Eastern Conference team interested in Damian Lillard
Date: Sept. 18
Rumor: Lillard's wish of being traded to the Heat has been made clear, but there's "another Eastern Conference team" that has an interest in him. Trading for him without his blessing would be "very, very risky."
Reported by: Marc J. Spears, ESPN
Potential Heat trade package for Damian Lillard is revealed
Date: July 31
Rumor: The Heat's potential trade package for Lillard is expected to be headlined by "3-to-4 first-round picks."
The deal is expected to see Tyler Herro going to a third team and includes pick swaps, second-round picks, expiring contracts and young players going to the Trail Blazers.
Reported by: Shams Charania, The Athletic
NBA releases memo on Damian Lillard's trade request
Date: July 29
Rumor: The NBA released a memo to all 30 teams regarding the way that Lillard and his agent, Aaron Goodwin, have gone about the superstar's trade request.
The memo served as a warning to Lillard (and other stars who may want to be traded in the future) that penalties can be handed out if a player or agent suggests that the player will "not fully perform the services called for under his player contract in the event of a trade."
You can read the full memo that the NBA sent to its teams here.
Reported by: Shams Charania, The Athletic
Heat unclear on what Trail Blazers want in Damian Lillard trade
Date: July 21
Rumor: The Heat are "a bit frustrated" with how slowly things are moving along on the Lillard front. While the Trail Blazers are telling the Heat to bring their best offer, the Heat remain unclear on what the Trail Blazers want.
"Miami is not getting that answer. They feel like things could be moving along a little bit quicker if Portland was saying exactly what it is they want.
"Obviously, Miami doesn't have all the assets that Portland would want in a return for a Damian Lillard trade, so they want to know, 'OK, what do we have to get out there? What other teams do we have to get involved to make this work?'
"So far, the communication is just not there. That's making this situation rather frustrating on that side, for Miami."
Reported by: Chris Haynes, Bleacher Report
Clippers, Celtics have shown interest in Damian Lillard
Date: July 10
Rumor: The Clippers and Celtics are among the teams that have had a "level of interest" in Lillard. However, Lillard wants to be in Miami and trading for him runs the risk of "trading for a disgruntled player."
"He doesn't have a no-trade clause, but he kind of has something similar to that right now."
Reported by: Shams Charania, The Athletic
Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin remaining patient on Damian Lillard trade
Date: July 10
Rumor: Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin addressed the media in Las Vegas, fielding questions on superstar guard Lillard's trade request.
He assured that Portland does not intend to rush a Lillard deal, stating, "We're going to be patient. We're going to do what's best for our team. We're going to see how this lands. And if it takes months, it takes months."
He also added that Lillard's lone desire to go to Miami limits the Trail Blazers' options for the best potential return.
Damian Lillard's agent sending clear message
Date: July 6
Rumor: Lillard's agent has warned prospective trade partners against trading for the Trail Blazers star.
"[Aaron] Goodwin is telling organizations outside of Miami that trading for Lillard is trading for an unhappy player," writes Wojnarowski. "As interference goes, this is a time-honored agent maneuver to depress offers and clear a path to a predetermined destination."
The Trail Blazers are said to be pursuing a package of "desirable draft picks and high-level young players." Team officials are telling teams that they'll only part with Lillard for the "deepest return of assets available."
Reported by: Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN
Trail Blazers 'not impressed' with Heat trade offer, don't want Tyler Herro
Date: July 4
Rumor: It's Lillard's preference to want to go to the Heat, but the Blazers don't seem to be in a rush to ship him to South Beach. The Trail Blazers were "not impressed" with the Heat's trade offer, and they're looking for a third team to help facilitate the trade. That third team would be sending assets to Portland in exchange for picking up Herro from the Heat.
Reported by: Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN
Trail Blazers 'open for business' in Damian Lillard trade
Date: July 2
Rumor: This might not be a quick process as the Trail Blazers try to find the "best deal they can — a combination of young players, draft picks, salary cap relief, all of the things you want when a star of Damian Lillard's magnitude asks to be traded."
Portland is open for business everywhere in the league. Miami does not have an advantage just because Lillard wants to go there.
Reported by: Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN
Damian Lillard to Heat trade would likely include third team
Date: July 1
Rumor: If Damian Lillard is traded from the Trail Blazers to the Heat, it would "almost certainly" involve a third team, per Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes. Specifically, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reports that the Trail Blazers would have "the goal" of finding a third team for Tyler Herro.
Reported by: Chris Haynes, Bleacher Report; Jake Fischer, Yahoo Sports
Heat, Clippers among teams interested in Damian Lillard
Date: July 1
Rumor: The Heat, 76ers and Clippers have been identified as teams with "interest in exploring trades" for Damian Lillard by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne. While Lillard's preference is to be traded to the Heat, he is said to have a "deep respect" for the Spurs organization.
The Athletic's Shams Charania adds that the Nets are also among the "leading suitors" for Lillard.
Reported by: Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne, ESPN; Shams Charania, The Athletic
Damian Lillard requests a trade
Date: July 1
Rumor: Following his 11th season with the franchise, Damian Lillard has requested a trade from the Trail Blazers.
Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin confirmed Lillard's trade request later in the day.
“We have been clear that we want Dame here but he notified us today he wants out and he’d prefer to play someplace else," he said. "What has not changed for us is that we’re committed to winning, and we are going to do what’s best for the team in pursuit of that goal.”
Reported by: Chris Haynes, Bleacher Report
