Leading up to the NBA draft, rumors swirled that the Portland Trail Blazers would finally make their choice between building a contending team around Damian Lillard or trading the star and beginning a rebuild. Portland held the 3rd overall pick in the draft, and insiders believed that they would be able to make a deal to get players like Jaylen Brown or Zion Williamson for it. However, Portland’s front office would use the pick to select Scoot Henderson.
Interestingly, they still have not traded Lillard. It is clear that the veteran is looking to play for a contending team and compete for a championship before he is past his prime. With the front office being incapable of bringing in a star to put alongside Lillard, it is highly likely that they will soon make a blockbuster deal to kick off their rebuild. There are three very solid landing spots for one of the top point guards in the NBA.
1. Denver Nuggets
During the NBA Finals, Lillard said that he wanted to play for whichever team lost the series. Despite this, the Nuggets would be a perfect landing spot for him. The deal would likely force the Nuggets to give up Jamal Murray, however, with his concerning injury history, this could be a smart move for the Nuggets to make.
Dame is still one of the best scorers the league has to offer, and with the elite playmaking of Nikola Jokic, he could still come close to averaging the 30+ points per game that he did last season. While this deal would tighten Denver’s championship window, it would limit the risk of a playoff run being cut short due to injuries.
2. Miami Heat
The most likely trade destination for Lillard this offseason is the Miami Heat. As previously mentioned, Lillard said that he wanted to play for the team that lost the Finals and even went as far as naming the team as his preferred destination. Miami has the assets to make a trade happen, and Lillard would be a huge addition to the team.
Last season, Jimmy Butler was the only star player on the team. While role players stepped up and played a huge role in the Heat making their historic run through the playoffs, they did not have the talent to keep up with the Nuggets in the Finals. Lillard is a player that can change that. He is a source of instant offense and is notorious for stepping up his level of play in the postseason.
With him being on a contending team if he joins the Heat, there is a strong chance that his effort on the defensive side of the ball will greatly improve as well.
3. Brooklyn Nets
The final team in the mix for Lillard is the Brooklyn Nets. This would be an interesting landing spot for Lillard, and there is a chance that he could build his own superteam in Brooklyn. The team already has some very strong pieces in Mikal Bridges and Nic Claxton.
However, if Lillard does not bring another star player with him, there is a strong chance that this core will not be enough to truly contend for a title. If he were to be traded to the Nets and they do not make any other big moves, the team could end up finding themselves in the same situation that Portland has for the past few years.
