Posted on: July 8, 2023, 12:28h. Last updated on: July 8, 2023, 12:28h.
Portland Trail Blazers star guard Damian Lillard recently requested a trade. The Miami Heat are the favored team to acquire Lillard in a trade at odds of -275, but the Boston Celtics are also making a push with odds of +650. Lillard specifically wants to be sent to the Heat, but since he doesn’t have a no-trade clause, there is no guarantee that will happen. The Trail Blazers have already rejected a trade offer from the Heat, indicating that their general manager is not in a rush to trade Lillard. The trade may take longer to materialize compared to the Bradley Beal trade between the Washington Wizards and Phoenix Suns. The Heat lost to the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals and are looking to add a scorer and playmaker like Lillard to compete in the Eastern Conference. Lillard, along with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, would form a “Big Three” that could make the Heat serious title contenders next season. Currently, the Heat have odds of +900 to win the 2023-24 NBA championship, making them the fifth-highest ranked team on DraftKings’ NBA futures board. In the meantime, bettors can place wagers on which team Lillard will play for at the start of next season, with the Heat being the favorite at -275. While NBA media figures believe the Trail Blazers will trade Lillard to the Heat, the timing of the trade is uncertain. The two sides are slowly working out the details, even after the Trail Blazers rejected the Heat’s initial offer. The Trail Blazers are seeking a trade package similar to what the Utah Jazz received when they traded Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves, which included four first-round picks and multiple players. The Trail Blazers also want a trade package comparable to what the Phoenix Suns gave up for Kevin Durant, which included four first-round picks and three potential starters. They’re hoping to get four first-round picks and two quality players in exchange for Lillard, with the term “quality” being left open to interpretation. The Heat have two promising prospects in Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez that could be included in a trade. The Heat’s first offer included Tyler Herro, the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year, but the Trail Blazers are not interested in him. The Heat may look for a third team to facilitate the trade, with the San Antonio Spurs being interested in acquiring Herro. There’s a possibility that the 2023-24 NBA regular season could begin without a Lillard trade. While all parties involved prefer to complete the trade before preseason, there is no hard deadline. The Trail Blazers are valued at +550 as the team where Lillard will play his first game of the season. The Boston Celtics are also in the mix with odds of +650, with general manager Brad Stevens making several moves this offseason. The Celtics may need to part ways with Jaylen Brown if they pursue a trade for Lillard. The Brooklyn Nets, with odds of +1200, have an abundance of draft picks but face challenges due to Lillard’s lack of interest in playing for them. The New York Knicks have odds of +6000 to acquire Lillard in a trade, but the possibility remains intriguing since Lillard has expressed admiration for Madison Square Garden. The Knicks have the assets to meet the Trail Blazers’ demands for a trade.
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