Blazers Seeking ‘In Neighborhood’ of Four Firsts, Two Players for Damian Lillard

The Trail Blazers do indeed intend to trade star guard Damian Lillard, granting his request. But to who and when … we still don’t know.

As has been relayed repeatedly, Lillard only wants to go to the Heat. But do the Heat have the pieces that the Blazers seek in exchange? We still don’t know that, either.

At least, Miami may not have the best pieces.

All of this is complicated by the fact Lillard still has three years left on his massive contract after signing an extension last summer. It is also complicated by the fact his agent, Aaron Goodwin, has talked to every reporter who needs a quote by suggesting Lillard would only report to the Heat.

But right now, Blazers GM Joe Cronin appears to be exploring all options. His mission: Get the best deal for Lillard. Whatever happens after that is between Lillard, his agent, and the new team.

And according to Aaron Fentress of the Oregonian, the Blazers are seeking “in the neighborhood of four first-round picks and two quality players.”

Fentress has been the leading source of information on this story, and indicated that if the Blazers are seeking that much for Lillard, a third team would likely need to be involved. Some have even suggested a fourth team might be needed to push through what could be tons of moving salary.

One thing that’s been made clear, again, is that Lillard only wants to go to Miami.

“It’s not fair to a team to allow them to engage in a negotiation that could be futile in the end,” Goodwin told Fentress.

Damian Lillard’s agent believes Blazers and Heat will reach a deal

Other teams need not bother.

“I don’t think another team would do a deal like that knowing everything that’s going on,” Aaron Goodwin said. “But if they do, then they don’t know Dame.”https://t.co/7bvZXrxQ8Y

— Aaron J. Fentress (@AaronJFentress) July 7, 2023