Damian Lillard officially has asked out of Portland, instantly moving to the top of an already burgeoning NBA trade market.
The seven-time All-Star guard has requested that the Trail Blazers trade him, with the Heat and the Nets “among the leading suitors for one of the NBA’s 75 Greatest Players ever,” Shams Charania of The Athletic tweeted.
But the 32-year-old Lillard’s preferred destination is Miami, after Jimmy Butler and the Heat made a surprise run to the NBA Finals last month, according to multiple reports.
Lillard for years has maintained a desire to stay with the Trail Blazers, the only team he has played for over 11 NBA seasons.
But the organization kept the No. 3 overall selection in the 2023 NBA Draft and chose point guard Scoot Henderson rather than deal the pick for an established player to pair with Lillard.
“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,” Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin said in a statement. “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.”
After he averaged a career-best 32.2 points with 7.3 assists last season, Lillard has four years and roughly $216 million remaining on his contract, assuming he exercises his $63.2 million player option for 2026-27, with a salary of $45.6 million for 2023-24.
SNY reported Saturday the Nets are one of the teams that has been contacted about acquiring Heat guard Tyler Herro in a potential three-team Lillard trade.
Meanwhile, the 76ers, who are looking to move James Harden, and the Clippers also are teams that “will have interest in exploring trades for Lillard,” ESPN reported.
Appearing recently on “The Last Stand” podcast, Lillard highlighted the Heat when he was asked which teams would appeal to him if he were to relocate.
“Miami, obviously. Miami is the obvious one,” Lillard said. “Bam [Adebayo] is my dog. Bam is my dog, for real. Miami is the obvious one. Brooklyn is another obvious one, because Mikal Bridges is my dog, too.”
Bridges told The Post last week that Lillard would “help any team” if the Blazers made him available this summer.
“Dame is Dame, everyone knows what he does and what he can do,” Bridges said. “He’s an unbelievable leader, unbelievable player. Everybody in the world knows that.
“He’d be key for anybody, any team he goes to. He’s one of the Top 75 already, an unbelievable player. So wherever he goes, if he does go, he’s gonna make an impact.”
Knicks wing Josh Hart, a former teammate of Lillard’s in Portland, also appeared to attempt a recruiting pitch on Saturday, tweeting, “Hey @DameLillard,” followed by a raised hand emoji.
Bridges and Cam Johnson, who agreed with the Nets on a four-year deal worth $108 million shortly after the free-agent negotiating period opened at 6 p.m. Friday, were obtained from the Suns in the Kevin Durant blockbuster trade at the February deadline.
The Nets also parted that week with Kyrie Irving, sending him to the Mavericks in a deal that brought back Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and draft picks.
Those players helped lead the Nets to the No. 6 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference, although they were swept in the first round by the 76ers.