Published Date: September 27, 2023, 12:04h.
Last Updated: September 27, 2023, 12:04h.
The Toronto Raptors are expressing interest in acquiring star guard Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers through a trade, according to reports.
According to ESPN’s Marc Spears, the Trail Blazers plan to trade Lillard before the NBA’s Media Day on October 2.
In the 2022-23 season, Lillard, a seven-time NBA All-Star, averaged 32.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists for the Trail Blazers. Unfortunately, the Trail Blazers had a disappointing season with a record of 33-49 and missed the playoffs. They secured the 3rd pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, but ultimately decided to keep it and selected point guard Scoot Henderson.
After the draft, Lillard requested a trade, and the Trail Blazers are now working on finding a suitable deal. While Lillard initially expressed interest in joining the Miami Heat, negotiations with the Heat reached a standstill during the summer.
Various teams from the Eastern Conference, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, and Chicago Bulls, showed some curiosity in trading for Lillard. However, no serious trade offers were made during the offseason.
Heat Lose Favor, Raptors Emerge as Contenders for Lillard Trade
Initially, the Trail Blazers required four first-round draft picks in exchange for Lillard. The Miami Heat were willing to offer two first-round picks along with guard Tyler Herro. However, the Trail Blazers preferred draft assets over Herro, rejecting the Heat’s initial offer.
Herro, who won the Sixth Man of the Year award, saw his trade value decrease after fracturing his hand in the playoffs. The Heat attempted to trade him for a first-round pick but failed to reach an agreement with other teams.
Currently, the Heat are the favored destination for Lillard in a trade, with odds of -250 on DraftKings. However, the Raptors’ odds have also increased in the past 72 hours, with their chances now at +400 on DraftKings.
Raptors Look to Pair Lillard with Siakam
Although talks with the Heat have cooled down, the Raptors have emerged as frontrunners to acquire Lillard. With the Eastern Conference wide open, the addition of Lillard could significantly strengthen the Raptors’ position. The team hopes to form a duo between Lillard and All-Star forward Pascal Siakam, who has also been involved in trade rumors.
The Raptors received the 2022 Rookie of the Year, Scottie Barnes, but he struggled in his second season. Despite interest from the Trail Blazers, the Raptors have made it clear that Barnes is not available for trade.
In any potential deal for Lillard, forward OG Anunoby would likely be the centerpiece from the Raptors’ side. The Trail Blazers are interested in Anunoby, with forward Jerami Grant already on their roster.
To secure Lillard, the Raptors can offer multiple first-round picks along with pick swaps in 2028 and 2030. Additionally, they would include incoming rookie guard Gradey Dick from Kansas (the 13th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft), as well as a couple of veterans with expiring contracts.
Thaddeus Young (power forward/center), Otto Porter (forward), and Gary Trent Jr. (shooting guard) all have one year remaining on their contracts with the Raptors. Chris Boucher (backup forward) has two years left on his current deal.
Suns Propose 3-Team Trade Involving Trail Blazers and Raptors
There have been rumors linking the Trail Blazers to a potential trade involving Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton.
The Suns have been active in the offseason, trading point guard Chris Paul for All-Star guard Bradley Beal. They are now looking to part ways with Ayton, the former #1 draft pick who signed a max-contract extension last offseason.
With the Trail Blazers expressing interest in Ayton, and the Suns keen on acquiring Jusuf Nurkic from Portland, there is a possibility of a big man swap that could facilitate a trade involving Lillard and the Raptors.
A recent trade rumor suggested a three-team deal in which the Suns would acquire Anunoby and Nurkic. In return, the Raptors would receive Lillard and forward Jabari Walker, while the Trail Blazers would obtain Ayton, Dick, Trent, Young, and two first-round draft picks from the Raptors.
Multi-team trades are often complicated to negotiate, making a three-team deal for Lillard unlikely. It is more likely that the Suns and Trail Blazers will first work out a deal for Ayton before considering any further moves.
With odds of +650, the Suns are among the top contenders to win the 2023-24 NBA championship, ranking third behind the Denver Nuggets (+475) and the Boston Celtics (+500). The Heat have odds of +900, placing them fifth on the board.
The Raptors’ championship odds currently stand at +8000. However, if they manage to secure a trade for Lillard, their futures could see a significant increase.
As for the Trail Blazers, they are considered a long shot to win the championship with odds of +25000. Only six teams have longer odds, with the Trail Blazers projected to finish last in the Northwest Division.