Latest on Damian Lillard

The Trail Blazers don’t intend to cooperate with star guard Damian Lillard on sending him to his preferred destination of the Heat, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said on SportsCenter (via Evan Sidery).

Lillard requested a trade on Saturday and reports say Miami is at the top of his wish list.

But Wojnarowski said the Blazers are “open for business everywhere in the league” and not just the Heat on a Lillard trade. Miami does not have any advantage in trade talks, Wojnarowski added.

Portland GM Joe Cronin suggested as much in a statement.

“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,” Cronin 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.”

Along with the Heat, Lillard has been linked to the Nets and Spurs, with other potential suitors certain to be mentioned soon.

The Blazers are seeking a combination of young players and draft picks in exchange for Lillard, per Wojnarowski.

This follows a report from Sam Amick of The Athletic, who suggested that the Lillard situation appears to be very much up in the air.

“According to a source who has been briefed on the situation, that’s what was happening in those hours after Lillard’s desires were made clear,” Amick wrote. “So while the Heat are still considered the only team that Lillard is truly prepared to play for, there’s a process unfolding here that could ultimately lead to other plausible scenarios if the Blazers struggle to find a middle ground with Miami.”

The Trail Blazers do not plan to cooperate with Damian Lillard on his trade request to the Heat, per @wojespn:

– Portland “open for business everywhere in the league” on trading Lillard.

– Blazers seeking a combination of young players, draft picks and cap relief.

– Miami has… pic.twitter.com/n7y8PtaCgo

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 2, 2023