NBA rumors: There have been conflicting reports about the Miami Heat’s trade pursuit for Portland Blazers superstar Damian Lillard. Rumor has it that the Heat are preparing to make an improved offer for Dame, while other reports indicate that Miami does not want to outbid itself either given how there appears to be no other team in the league that’s willing or able to seriously make a run at the seven-time All-Star.
Whatever the case might be, both teams appear to be in a serious deadlock.
NBA Rumors: Damian Lillard Won’t Hold Out With Blazers
At this point, it has now become entirely feasible that the Heat and the Blazers are unable to strike a deal. The biggest loser in this potential eventuality would be Damian Lillard, who would be forced to play for Portland in spite of the fact that he’s made his feelings about leaving the team abundantly clear.
Being the professional that he is, however, Dame is not expected to hold out should he end up stuck in Portland. According to Blazers insider Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive, Lillard will still report to camp even if Portland is unable to trade him:
“I’m told that if he ends up back in camp, he would show up and play,” Fentress said, via Paul Kasbian of Bleacher Report. “He’s gonna get his money. I mean, he’s not dumb.
“But if you play him and he twists ankle or has a calf thing again, or Lord knows what, now what are you gonna get for him? And if you end up keeping him for the entire season, what are you gonna get three or four first-round picks and something for a 34-year-old Damian Lillard coming off another year with another type of nagging injury?”
It’s not as if Dame will be pulling a James Harden on the Blazers, but based on the above report, it is clear that the best course of action for all parties involved here would be for Portland to just let Dame go.
NBA Rumors: Could Bucks Face Similar Dilemma With Giannis Antetokounmpo?
By now you likely know that Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to be eligible for an extension in September. You’ve also probably heard about the rumors about opposing teams monitoring this situation in the event that the former back-to-back MVP opts to turn down that offer.
If Giannis all of a sudden decides that he wants out of Milwaukee, would the Bucks honor his trade demand? Much like the Blazers’ predicament with Lillard, the Bucks also owe a lot to Antetokounmpo. After all, he did bring a championship to the city for the first time in five decades. The truth is that this probably won’t happen, but then again, this is also what most folks believed with Lillard not too long ago.
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