Almost three months after his transfer request, Damian Lillard still has not obtained his release letter to join the Miami Heat. The file is blocked and the Blazers continue to look for alternatives to obtain the best possible compensation. Alternatives which are struggling to materialize, in particular because Dame DOLLA does not envisage any other destination.
It’s no secret that Damian Lillard wants to go to Miami and nowhere else. This very clear desire partly explains why few NBA teams jump on this opportunity to recover a player of Dame’s caliber. Despite his four years of contract remaining, the franchises are necessarily cooled by the idea of dropping a big package to recover a 33-year-old star who doesn’t really want to be there, especially with a salary of $50 million per season.
The risk is therefore real. Will any NBA team outside of Miami dare take him? The future will tell us but the latest news will not reassure the franchises potentially tempted by a poker move: according to Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of Miami HeraldDamian Lillard could still request a transfer to the Heat even if Portland sends him to another franchise.
Damian Lillard is expected to request a trade to the Miami Heat if he gets traded to another team, per @flasportsbuzz pic.twitter.com/4OnAXscm2g
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 20, 2023
Well, you will tell us that the information comes as if by chance from Miami, and that it is probably a piece of pressure coming from Dame’s camp to force his transfer to Florida a little more while the Blazers are currently discussing with other teams. But it is clear that all this will not make Portland’s task easier to find a better trade partner than the Heat, whose proposed consideration is considered too weak by general manager Joe Cronin.
In the scenario where Damian Lillard is sent somewhere other than South Beach, it will be interesting to see how Dame behaves in his new colors. Renowned for his professionalism and loyalty, Lillard is not the type of guy to come and ruin a situation like James Harden for example.
But given his pressing desire to join Miami and only Miami, can Dame decide to take major measures?
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Source texte : Miami Herald
2023-09-20 23:44:06
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