Damian Lillard could be getting closer to his South Beach dream.
With the Blazers star only having eyes for the Heat in a trade, Miami is inching towards the lofty asking price that the Blazers have set for their franchise point guard, according to The Oregonian’s Aaron J. Fentress.
“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 on the “Blazer focused” podcast.
“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 question is finding that fourth first-round pick. And if (the Blazers) don’t want Herro, you just have to find someone to take Herro and give you another first-round pick. 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.”
A price tag of four first-round picks, along with two “quality” players, has been the asking price from the start for the Blazers, according to reports.
Miami’s early offers centered on Herro and sharpshooter Duncan Robinson, along with a pick or two, but that package was not sufficient enough for Portland as they prepare to enter a full rebuild around No. 3 pick Scoot Henderson and 20-year-old forward Shaedon Sharpe.
Lillard has arguably been the greatest player in Portland Trail Blazers history, save for Clyde Drexler.
The seven-time All-Star guard is coming off his best season yet, averaging 32.2 points, 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game.
Lillard also was selected to the All-NBA third team during the 2022-23 campaign, his seventh selection to an All-NBA team.
