The Heat were interested in Bradley Beal but now he has been traded to the Suns, all eyes are on Miami to see whether they secure Dame’s services.
“Miami’s focus is Portland superstar Damian Lillard with the genuine belief this could be the offseason the veteran guard seeks a change of scenery, league sources tell @NBAonTNT @BleacherReport,” Chris Haynes tweeted on Sunday.
Another Insider, Heat Beat reporter Ira Winderman, reported that the franchise are indeed looking to land a superstar.
“Asked about the Heat’s approach with Beal, a party familiar with the talks on Sunday told the South Florida Sun Sentinel to “think bigger”,” Winderman wrote.
“Lillard would be bigger, but unlike Beal has yet to hit the trade market.”
Trade chips on the Heat’s end include the expiring $29.7 million salary of guard Kyle Lowry, as well as the contracts of Victor Oladipo and Duncan Robinson.
The Heat refused to include guard Tyler Herro in a package for Beal, but Beal is no Lillard.
Adding Herro to a deal for Dame could certainly help get a trade across the line. Herro’s salary can be used in a trade starting on July 1.
There has yet to be any news from Lillard’s camp on whether he will request a trade away from Portland.
Things will be made more clear come draft day as the Blazers will need to decide whether they keep their number three draft pick, or use it to get Lillard a win-now team.
If they do decide to keep their pick, likely to be Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller, Lillard has made it clear he won’t be waiting around for any young players to develop.
Even Dame himself said recently that if he was to switch teams, Miami would be his preference.
More to come.