Report: Lillard requests trade

[Celtics4ever]

LBJ is bad for any team long term, as he demands trades and moves that cripple franchises long term.    His finals records is terrible.  He is batting .400 in the finals.  LA totally deserves him and they only have 12 titles and should not be able to count the ones won in Minneapolis.   Not the same city.

[Kernewek]

The not reporting stuff is a new wrinkle, but the “Lillard’s agent is calling teams and telling them he won’t play for them” was absolutely not put to the press by Goodwin first, although he did comment on it.

I’ve already commented on the chronology earlier in the thread, if you want the links.

Edit: Goodwin, not Goldman.

[Neurotic Guy]

If Lillard's agent is calling teams to warn against trading for him, as a way to force his way to Miami, can the commissioner step in and fine Lillard and his agent? Better yet, could the commissioner veto a trade of Lillard to Miami because of what is essentially is becoming collusion?

It is clearly collusion or in violation of the CBA. If the commish doesn't step in, it sets a bad precedent for the league.

I agree. I’m not generally pro owner but this is nonsense. You signed the super max Dame can’t force your franchise into a horrible deal after that

Isn’t this the main method Lakers get who ever they want ..players forcing their way to LA and open door with no scruples

This narrative for the lakers getting all these players is pretty weird to me. In the last 15 years pretty much every big name free agent has chosen to sign with other teams outside of Lebron and they had tons of guys they wanted. The trades for stars were not like amazing deals for them either. They gave up a ton to get Davis (they are often criticized for giving up way too much). The Westbrook trade was obviously a bad trade for them. If the heat were giving up lonzo ball (not injured) Brandon Ingram, Josh hart a number 4 overall pick and multiple other first rounders and swaps people would be a lot less upset.

Yeah, that bugs me too.

LAL couldn't get any of the FAs they wanted in the post Shaq years. They wanted Amare. They wanted Yao Ming. I forget who else. They wanted guys in trades. They wanted KG. They came up empty time and time again.

When Kobe's career was ending, they went after max free agents year after year. Again, coming up empty every time. Aldridge was one of them. They couldn't even get L Aldridge.

LeBron is the only major FA to go there in 25 years. And he only went there because they had enough trade assets to get a 2nd superstar alongside him from years of tanking.

Here is a summary of just some of the bad years before Lebron https://www.sportingnews.com/us/amp/nba/news/lebron-james-lakers-free-agency-news-rumors-roster-contract-magic-johnson/c03vqu3myif51cjzvlith9d1x

They wanted George and Leonard and Lowry. They also badly wanted Dwight Howard to stay and he signed elsewhere. This could change at some point but the idea the lakers have got a ton of free agents in the last 15 years is kind of crazy. We have actually done way better during this time period getting highly sought after free agents like hayward, Horford and Kemba.

Everything hasn’t gone the Lakers way in the last 15 years. How about LBJ and Davis though?  Please name the teams that would be unhappy to have LBJ and Anthony Davis work their way onto their roster.  As I said previously - in the 13 years after the last dynastic run for LAL, they’ve won 1 championship and were in one additional Finals.  I think only 4 teams have actually done better than that in the last 13 years.  And that’s AFTER their last dynasty ended.

What was the additional finals? They only made (and won) 1 finals after their dynasty with Kobe ended. The last finals outside the bubble was in 2010. Also they gave up like 4 years of tanking assets to get Davis including lonzo, ball and the number 4 overall pick. I don’t think we would be happy as fans if we had given up brown and Tatum for Davis. (Obviously balls injury makes the trade less of a fair comparison. Again they have done pretty mediocre in free agency outside of Lebron (if not flat out awful with guys like deng, mosgov signed to use their large cap space). The argument the lakers have been a big free agent destination the last 15 years just isn’t born in reality and they haven’t had much success by their standards during the same period. If they don’t win the one bubble championship they are in far an away the worst period in their modern franchise history. People just seem to ignore this all.

Oops!  I stand corrected. But I do stick by the idea that no other team had 2 top 5 talents work their way onto their team. Regardless of the return.  You can argue the Lakers didn’t need to pay as much for Davis as they did but you can’t discount that he made it clear where he wanted to go and that he wouldn’t sign beyond the year if traded elsewhere.   

[hwangjini_1]

I don't see how MIA can make a fair offer unless they include Adebayo, which apparently, they won't.  If I was POR, I would not settle for Tyler Herro and whatever not named Bam, no matter how many picks they throw in.  If they can't get MIA to include Adebayo (Herro and Adebayo plus picks is fair), I go back to Lillard and tell him they tried with MIA, but it didn't work.  Either add to you list of teams or suit up because we are not going to trade you to MIA for a bad deal.

I see them as still trying to do their due diligence with MIA.  That is fine.  That needs to play out.  They can indulge Lillard and fully exhaust any possibility with MIA.  But if that does not result in a fair deal, so be it.  And I can understand why no other teams are really engaging until the MIA thing has played out.  No reason to.

I have the opposite viewpoint on that.

If I am a 3rd team and I want Lillard, if I do not express my interest and show my willingness to offer a better deal than Miami is ... I fear POR gives up and sends Lillard to Miami.

I feel my only chance of landing Lillard is showing I am willing to beat MIA's offer. And that can be contigent on talking to Lillard and getting his buy-in. But I need to show my availability and willingness to surpass MIA's offer. Otherwise, there may be no opportunity down the road.

good points. hopefully adding to that, if portland believes there is a market for lillard they may simply hold on to him until the trade deadline. then, either (1) miami may increase their offer since portland has shown they are willing to NOT trade lillard unless the price is right, or (2) lillard may change his mind and accept another city, which will also increase the assets being offered for him.

if lillard reacts to the non-trade by not playing, it helps portland rebuild with a better draft pick owing to a bad record. also, it makes the home fans view lillard, not ownership, as the villian. it saves a small boatload of money for the portland owners as well.

this reminds me of when durant demanded a trade and the team management said no. durant played and then eventually was traded for a lot more assets than originally offered.

it strikes me that lillard has only one card to play now - threaten to throw a fit and not report or play unless he goes to miami. if i am the portland ownership i would refuse to take a pu pu platter for him, and instead make him miss his paychecks, or play for portland. he is signed for the next 3 years?

i think lillard or miami blink first on this one.

[celticsclay]

If Lillard's agent is calling teams to warn against trading for him, as a way to force his way to Miami, can the commissioner step in and fine Lillard and his agent? Better yet, could the commissioner veto a trade of Lillard to Miami because of what is essentially is becoming collusion?

It is clearly collusion or in violation of the CBA. If the commish doesn't step in, it sets a bad precedent for the league.

I agree. I’m not generally pro owner but this is nonsense. You signed the super max Dame can’t force your franchise into a horrible deal after that

Isn’t this the main method Lakers get who ever they want ..players forcing their way to LA and open door with no scruples

This narrative for the lakers getting all these players is pretty weird to me. In the last 15 years pretty much every big name free agent has chosen to sign with other teams outside of Lebron and they had tons of guys they wanted. The trades for stars were not like amazing deals for them either. They gave up a ton to get Davis (they are often criticized for giving up way too much). The Westbrook trade was obviously a bad trade for them. If the heat were giving up lonzo ball (not injured) Brandon Ingram, Josh hart a number 4 overall pick and multiple other first rounders and swaps people would be a lot less upset.

Yeah, that bugs me too.

LAL couldn't get any of the FAs they wanted in the post Shaq years. They wanted Amare. They wanted Yao Ming. I forget who else. They wanted guys in trades. They wanted KG. They came up empty time and time again.

When Kobe's career was ending, they went after max free agents year after year. Again, coming up empty every time. Aldridge was one of them. They couldn't even get L Aldridge.

LeBron is the only major FA to go there in 25 years. And he only went there because they had enough trade assets to get a 2nd superstar alongside him from years of tanking.

Here is a summary of just some of the bad years before Lebron https://www.sportingnews.com/us/amp/nba/news/lebron-james-lakers-free-agency-news-rumors-roster-contract-magic-johnson/c03vqu3myif51cjzvlith9d1x

They wanted George and Leonard and Lowry. They also badly wanted Dwight Howard to stay and he signed elsewhere. This could change at some point but the idea the lakers have got a ton of free agents in the last 15 years is kind of crazy. We have actually done way better during this time period getting highly sought after free agents like hayward, Horford and Kemba.

Everything hasn’t gone the Lakers way in the last 15 years. How about LBJ and Davis though?  Please name the teams that would be unhappy to have LBJ and Anthony Davis work their way onto their roster.  As I said previously - in the 13 years after the last dynastic run for LAL, they’ve won 1 championship and were in one additional Finals.  I think only 4 teams have actually done better than that in the last 13 years.  And that’s AFTER their last dynasty ended.

What was the additional finals? They only made (and won) 1 finals after their dynasty with Kobe ended. The last finals outside the bubble was in 2010. Also they gave up like 4 years of tanking assets to get Davis including lonzo, ball and the number 4 overall pick. I don’t think we would be happy as fans if we had given up brown and Tatum for Davis. (Obviously balls injury makes the trade less of a fair comparison. Again they have done pretty mediocre in free agency outside of Lebron (if not flat out awful with guys like deng, mosgov signed to use their large cap space). The argument the lakers have been a big free agent destination the last 15 years just isn’t born in reality and they haven’t had much success by their standards during the same period. If they don’t win the one bubble championship they are in far an away the worst period in their modern franchise history. People just seem to ignore this all.

Oops!  I stand corrected. But I do stick by the idea that no other team had 2 top 5 talents work their way onto their team. Regardless of the return.  You can argue the Lakers didn’t need to pay as much for Davis as they did but you can’t discount that he made it clear where he wanted to go and that he wouldn’t sign beyond the year if traded elsewhere.

Calling davis Lebron both top 5 is a real stretch. When was the last time either one of them was better Gianni’s, Embid, joker, Durant, doncic, Tatum etc. again you are weirdly exaggerating a team that has one title in the last 13 seasons that a lot of people think they wouldn’t have won without a three month break.

[Birdman]

Portland wants 4 firsts & 2 players for Dame..yeah, good luck with that at his age & contract

[Neurotic Guy]

If Lillard's agent is calling teams to warn against trading for him, as a way to force his way to Miami, can the commissioner step in and fine Lillard and his agent? Better yet, could the commissioner veto a trade of Lillard to Miami because of what is essentially is becoming collusion?

It is clearly collusion or in violation of the CBA. If the commish doesn't step in, it sets a bad precedent for the league.

I agree. I’m not generally pro owner but this is nonsense. You signed the super max Dame can’t force your franchise into a horrible deal after that

Isn’t this the main method Lakers get who ever they want ..players forcing their way to LA and open door with no scruples

This narrative for the lakers getting all these players is pretty weird to me. In the last 15 years pretty much every big name free agent has chosen to sign with other teams outside of Lebron and they had tons of guys they wanted. The trades for stars were not like amazing deals for them either. They gave up a ton to get Davis (they are often criticized for giving up way too much). The Westbrook trade was obviously a bad trade for them. If the heat were giving up lonzo ball (not injured) Brandon Ingram, Josh hart a number 4 overall pick and multiple other first rounders and swaps people would be a lot less upset.

Yeah, that bugs me too.

LAL couldn't get any of the FAs they wanted in the post Shaq years. They wanted Amare. They wanted Yao Ming. I forget who else. They wanted guys in trades. They wanted KG. They came up empty time and time again.

When Kobe's career was ending, they went after max free agents year after year. Again, coming up empty every time. Aldridge was one of them. They couldn't even get L Aldridge.

LeBron is the only major FA to go there in 25 years. And he only went there because they had enough trade assets to get a 2nd superstar alongside him from years of tanking.

Here is a summary of just some of the bad years before Lebron https://www.sportingnews.com/us/amp/nba/news/lebron-james-lakers-free-agency-news-rumors-roster-contract-magic-johnson/c03vqu3myif51cjzvlith9d1x

They wanted George and Leonard and Lowry. They also badly wanted Dwight Howard to stay and he signed elsewhere. This could change at some point but the idea the lakers have got a ton of free agents in the last 15 years is kind of crazy. We have actually done way better during this time period getting highly sought after free agents like hayward, Horford and Kemba.

Everything hasn’t gone the Lakers way in the last 15 years. How about LBJ and Davis though?  Please name the teams that would be unhappy to have LBJ and Anthony Davis work their way onto their roster.  As I said previously - in the 13 years after the last dynastic run for LAL, they’ve won 1 championship and were in one additional Finals.  I think only 4 teams have actually done better than that in the last 13 years.  And that’s AFTER their last dynasty ended.

What was the additional finals? They only made (and won) 1 finals after their dynasty with Kobe ended. The last finals outside the bubble was in 2010. Also they gave up like 4 years of tanking assets to get Davis including lonzo, ball and the number 4 overall pick. I don’t think we would be happy as fans if we had given up brown and Tatum for Davis. (Obviously balls injury makes the trade less of a fair comparison. Again they have done pretty mediocre in free agency outside of Lebron (if not flat out awful with guys like deng, mosgov signed to use their large cap space). The argument the lakers have been a big free agent destination the last 15 years just isn’t born in reality and they haven’t had much success by their standards during the same period. If they don’t win the one bubble championship they are in far an away the worst period in their modern franchise history. People just seem to ignore this all.

Oops!  I stand corrected. But I do stick by the idea that no other team had 2 top 5 talents work their way onto their team. Regardless of the return.  You can argue the Lakers didn’t need to pay as much for Davis as they did but you can’t discount that he made it clear where he wanted to go and that he wouldn’t sign beyond the year if traded elsewhere.

Calling davis Lebron both top 5 is a real stretch. When was the last time either one of them was better Gianni’s, Embid, joker, Durant, doncic, Tatum etc. again you are weirdly exaggerating a team that has one title in the last 13 seasons that a lot of people think they wouldn’t have won without a three month break.

I'm mildly exaggerating the top 5 thing (esp Davis) but you might also be strangely minimizing.
I also may be exaggerating the impact of being a desired destination (specifically Miami & LAL), but there is real impact.  Run through the league to see how many teams have never made it to a Finals, or have a single appearance or 1 championship.  And look at Miami and LAL who had recent dynasties and are already contending (and in LAL case winning a championship) again.   Boston's turnaround to contender in 15 years is quick by NBA standards.   We MIGHT see a similarly quick turnaround for SAS with Wemby - in large part due to lottery luck.   I can't see any other team ending a championship run and then rebuilding to contender faster than LAL and Miami (and in the case of LAL it's happened multiple times). 

We'll see how long it takes GSW once their dynasty officially ends.

[SparzWizard]

LBJ is bad for any team long term, as he demands trades and moves that cripple franchises long term.    His finals records is terrible.  He is batting .400 in the finals.  LA totally deserves him and they only have 12 titles and should not be able to count the ones won in Minneapolis.   Not the same city.

Their argument is the Celtics shouldn't count the banners with Bill Russell because there were only like 8 teams in the league back then 

[celticsclay]

If Lillard's agent is calling teams to warn against trading for him, as a way to force his way to Miami, can the commissioner step in and fine Lillard and his agent? Better yet, could the commissioner veto a trade of Lillard to Miami because of what is essentially is becoming collusion?

It is clearly collusion or in violation of the CBA. If the commish doesn't step in, it sets a bad precedent for the league.

I agree. I’m not generally pro owner but this is nonsense. You signed the super max Dame can’t force your franchise into a horrible deal after that

Isn’t this the main method Lakers get who ever they want ..players forcing their way to LA and open door with no scruples

This narrative for the lakers getting all these players is pretty weird to me. In the last 15 years pretty much every big name free agent has chosen to sign with other teams outside of Lebron and they had tons of guys they wanted. The trades for stars were not like amazing deals for them either. They gave up a ton to get Davis (they are often criticized for giving up way too much). The Westbrook trade was obviously a bad trade for them. If the heat were giving up lonzo ball (not injured) Brandon Ingram, Josh hart a number 4 overall pick and multiple other first rounders and swaps people would be a lot less upset.

Yeah, that bugs me too.

LAL couldn't get any of the FAs they wanted in the post Shaq years. They wanted Amare. They wanted Yao Ming. I forget who else. They wanted guys in trades. They wanted KG. They came up empty time and time again.

When Kobe's career was ending, they went after max free agents year after year. Again, coming up empty every time. Aldridge was one of them. They couldn't even get L Aldridge.

LeBron is the only major FA to go there in 25 years. And he only went there because they had enough trade assets to get a 2nd superstar alongside him from years of tanking.

Here is a summary of just some of the bad years before Lebron https://www.sportingnews.com/us/amp/nba/news/lebron-james-lakers-free-agency-news-rumors-roster-contract-magic-johnson/c03vqu3myif51cjzvlith9d1x

They wanted George and Leonard and Lowry. They also badly wanted Dwight Howard to stay and he signed elsewhere. This could change at some point but the idea the lakers have got a ton of free agents in the last 15 years is kind of crazy. We have actually done way better during this time period getting highly sought after free agents like hayward, Horford and Kemba.

Everything hasn’t gone the Lakers way in the last 15 years. How about LBJ and Davis though?  Please name the teams that would be unhappy to have LBJ and Anthony Davis work their way onto their roster.  As I said previously - in the 13 years after the last dynastic run for LAL, they’ve won 1 championship and were in one additional Finals.  I think only 4 teams have actually done better than that in the last 13 years.  And that’s AFTER their last dynasty ended.

What was the additional finals? They only made (and won) 1 finals after their dynasty with Kobe ended. The last finals outside the bubble was in 2010. Also they gave up like 4 years of tanking assets to get Davis including lonzo, ball and the number 4 overall pick. I don’t think we would be happy as fans if we had given up brown and Tatum for Davis. (Obviously balls injury makes the trade less of a fair comparison. Again they have done pretty mediocre in free agency outside of Lebron (if not flat out awful with guys like deng, mosgov signed to use their large cap space). The argument the lakers have been a big free agent destination the last 15 years just isn’t born in reality and they haven’t had much success by their standards during the same period. If they don’t win the one bubble championship they are in far an away the worst period in their modern franchise history. People just seem to ignore this all.

Oops!  I stand corrected. But I do stick by the idea that no other team had 2 top 5 talents work their way onto their team. Regardless of the return.  You can argue the Lakers didn’t need to pay as much for Davis as they did but you can’t discount that he made it clear where he wanted to go and that he wouldn’t sign beyond the year if traded elsewhere.

Calling davis Lebron both top 5 is a real stretch. When was the last time either one of them was better Gianni’s, Embid, joker, Durant, doncic, Tatum etc. again you are weirdly exaggerating a team that has one title in the last 13 seasons that a lot of people think they wouldn’t have won without a three month break.

I'm mildly exaggerating the top 5 thing (esp Davis) but you might also be strangely minimizing.
I also may be exaggerating the impact of being a desired destination (specifically Miami & LAL), but there is real impact.  Run through the league to see how many teams have never made it to a Finals, or have a single appearance or 1 championship.  And look at Miami and LAL who had recent dynasties and are already contending (and in LAL case winning a championship) again.   Boston's turnaround to contender in 15 years is quick by NBA standards.   We MIGHT see a similarly quick turnaround for SAS with Wemby - in large part due to lottery luck.   I can't see any other team ending a championship run and then rebuilding to contender faster than LAL and Miami (and in the case of LAL it's happened multiple times). 

We'll see how long it takes GSW once their dynasty officially ends.

You can make a much stronger argument for Miami because they did get Lebron and bosh more recently. But even them they have one legit free agent signing in nearly the last ten years (butler). Again the Celtics have much better free agent signings during this period with hayward Horford and Kemba. We also have much better signings than the lakers as already mentioned, or at least more (I personally wouldn’t argue that a 34 year old Lebron was a better than Walker, hayward and Horford even though injuries completely ruined 2 of their careers. You are arguing a narrative that simply has not been true for the last 10-15 years.

[kraidstar]

LBJ is bad for any team long term, as he demands trades and moves that cripple franchises long term.    His finals records is terrible.  He is batting .400 in the finals.  LA totally deserves him and they only have 12 titles and should not be able to count the ones won in Minneapolis.   Not the same city.

Their argument is the Celtics shouldn't count the banners with Bill Russell because there were only like 8 teams in the league back then 

I'm sure their tune would be different if they'd managed to beat Russell a few times. Not that I expect better from the dumbest fanbase in sports.

[Who]

According to Woj

For teams calling about trading for Damian Lillard, the message from the Portland Trail Blazers has been unambiguous: Bring your best offer and make your team our preferred trade destination. General manager Joe Cronin doesn't plan to operate a transfer portal to the Miami Heat and dutifully deliver history's greatest Blazer to his targeted team.

As Cronin explores the broader landscape, Lillard's agent, Aaron Goodwin, has been calling prospective trade partners and warning against trading for his client, team executives told ESPN. Goodwin is telling organizations outside of Miami that trading for Lillard is trading for an unhappy player. As interference goes, this is a time-honored agent maneuver to depress offers and clear a path to a predetermined destination.

General managers who talked with ESPN suggested that pressure won't impact how they'll proceed. They would have Lillard under contract for four years, and believe his default mechanism would remain playing hard and well.

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/37964651/inside-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-trade-talks

Also on his contract

In 2019, Lillard pursued the Blazers on a supermax extension and landed a four-year, $176 million deal -- including a $60 million annual average when he's 35 and 36 years old. That's making it harder for the Blazers to trade Lillard, not easier. Some teams see that extension as a back-end blight on their cap.

And on Herro

Portland doesn't want guard Tyler Herro and the four years and $120 million owed on his extension, but there are teams that have told ESPN they would surrender a good first-round pick to the Blazers -- maybe something more -- to become a facilitator by taking on Herro in a three-way deal.

That would give POR 3 firsts, two recent firsts in Jaquez & Jovic and swaps. Plus cap flexability.

[ozgod]

The reputational damage of this whole saga has been pretty incredible. Went from one of the more universally well-regarded superstars to a petulant child within weeks

It's what happens whenever players try to force their way to a specific team when they don't have a no trade clause and plenty of years left in their contract 

[celticsclay]

Goodwin in why his threats to other teams are working

“I don’t think another team would do a deal like that knowing everything that’s going on,” Goodwin said. “But if they do, then they don’t know Dame.”

I don’t really understand what the argument is against this being a pretty blatant attempt to force Dame to Miami or why a team woukd make a serious offer with these kinds of threats.

[celticsclay]

According to Woj

For teams calling about trading for Damian Lillard, the message from the Portland Trail Blazers has been unambiguous: Bring your best offer and make your team our preferred trade destination. General manager Joe Cronin doesn't plan to operate a transfer portal to the Miami Heat and dutifully deliver history's greatest Blazer to his targeted team.

As Cronin explores the broader landscape, Lillard's agent, Aaron Goodwin, has been calling prospective trade partners and warning against trading for his client, team executives told ESPN. Goodwin is telling organizations outside of Miami that trading for Lillard is trading for an unhappy player. As interference goes, this is a time-honored agent maneuver to depress offers and clear a path to a predetermined destination.

General managers who talked with ESPN suggested that pressure won't impact how they'll proceed. They would have Lillard under contract for four years, and believe his default mechanism would remain playing hard and well.

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/37964651/inside-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-trade-talks

Also on his contract

In 2019, Lillard pursued the Blazers on a supermax extension and landed a four-year, $176 million deal -- including a $60 million annual average when he's 35 and 36 years old. That's making it harder for the Blazers to trade Lillard, not easier. Some teams see that extension as a back-end blight on their cap.

And on Herro

Portland doesn't want guard Tyler Herro and the four years and $120 million owed on his extension, but there are teams that have told ESPN they would surrender a good first-round pick to the Blazers -- maybe something more -- to become a facilitator by taking on Herro in a three-way deal.

That would give POR 3 firsts, two recent firsts in Jaquez & Jovic and swaps. Plus cap flexability.

Who I’ll be honest I don’t even know what your point is on this? Just insisting Miami is offering a good deal? Portland clearly is not interested in their package at the moment or the deal would be done.

[Who]

According to Woj

For teams calling about trading for Damian Lillard, the message from the Portland Trail Blazers has been unambiguous: Bring your best offer and make your team our preferred trade destination. General manager Joe Cronin doesn't plan to operate a transfer portal to the Miami Heat and dutifully deliver history's greatest Blazer to his targeted team.

As Cronin explores the broader landscape, Lillard's agent, Aaron Goodwin, has been calling prospective trade partners and warning against trading for his client, team executives told ESPN. Goodwin is telling organizations outside of Miami that trading for Lillard is trading for an unhappy player. As interference goes, this is a time-honored agent maneuver to depress offers and clear a path to a predetermined destination.

General managers who talked with ESPN suggested that pressure won't impact how they'll proceed. They would have Lillard under contract for four years, and believe his default mechanism would remain playing hard and well.

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/37964651/inside-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-trade-talks

Also on his contract

In 2019, Lillard pursued the Blazers on a supermax extension and landed a four-year, $176 million deal -- including a $60 million annual average when he's 35 and 36 years old. That's making it harder for the Blazers to trade Lillard, not easier. Some teams see that extension as a back-end blight on their cap.

And on Herro

Portland doesn't want guard Tyler Herro and the four years and $120 million owed on his extension, but there are teams that have told ESPN they would surrender a good first-round pick to the Blazers -- maybe something more -- to become a facilitator by taking on Herro in a three-way deal.

That would give POR 3 firsts, two recent firsts in Jaquez & Jovic and swaps. Plus cap flexability.

Who I’ll be honest I don’t even know what your point is on this? Just insisting Miami is offering a good deal? Portland clearly is not interested in their package at the moment or the deal would be done.

The point in those extracts:

(1) Woj reporting that GMs are not intimidated by Lillard's threats and are proceeding normally.

(2) Miami / Portland are able to get another 1st for Herro in a trade if POR do not want him.