Heat Offer ‘Pretty Close’ to What Blazers Seek in Damian Lillard Trade

The Trail Blazers still seem fairly far from the trade of star guard Damian Lillard to the Heat, but they may be getting nearer to a deal.

Per Aaron Fentress of the Oregonian, Miami and Portland are “pretty close,” adding that the sides “just have to figure it out.” Fentress revealed as much on the Oregonian’s Blazer Focused podcast (via HoopsHype).

Heat guard Tyler Herro has long been linked to a Lillard trade and Fentress mentioned Herro as someone who indeed would be shipped out. The Blazers are also believed to be seeking no less than four first-round picks as part of a Lillard deal, as we relayed here.

“If the Blazers can come out of this with four first-round picks, at least one or two young talents, and then salary-filler, that should get it done,” Fentress said. “I’m told that right now, Miami has three firsts, Tyler Herro, filler and maybe a young player already [as their offer], like willing to go with that.”

The sticking point may be that fourth first-rounder, leading the Heat and Blazers to potentially re-routing Herro to find it, Fentress suggested.

“The question is finding that fourth first-round pick. And if you don’t want Herro, you just have to find someone to take Herro and give you another first-round pick,” he said. “Then you’re at four firsts and at least one young player and salary filler, maybe even two young players. I’m told it’s pretty close, they just have to figure out. They hadn’t really spent much time working it out over the last couple of days.”

Agent Aaron Goodwin has cautioned other teams not to try to make a trade for Lillard, who is focused solely on playing for the Heat next season.