Damian Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin has reportedly been telling NBA teams that the Portland Trail Blazers star is only interested in being traded to the Miami Heat. The point guard is not technically on the free agency market, but with a trade likely on the way, Lillard seems to be zeroing in on a desired landing spot.
In an interview with the Miami Herald, Goodwin affirmed that Lillard has received interest from multiple teams but has also been clear that his client has a specific team in mind.
“I do what I should for my client,” Goodwin said. “Some teams I did call. Other teams have called me. It’s a respectful relationship with most teams. Truthfully, he wants to play in Miami. Period.”
Speculation surrounding Lillard’s off-season has been rampant for several months now, but it is now clear at least that there is no plan for him to rejoin the Blazers next season. Lillard has been reposting Portland fans’ farewell messages on social media, a clear sign that he is leaving the city where he spent his entire career. The Blazers also used the third overall pick in the draft this year to sign Scoot Henderson, a highly touted point guard who might have taken minutes from Lillard.
Earlier in the offseason, Lillard said that he would consider the Heat and the Brooklyn Nets as potential trade destinations. There were also rumors that he would have considered going to the Warriors, though negotiations cooled after the team acquired veteran Chris Paul.
Tracking down various rumors over the past few months may or may not reveal Lillard’s eventual team for the 2023-24 season, but the overarching goal for him seems to be a championship by the end of his career. Front office executives for the Heat need only point at their improbable run to the Finals last season to prove themselves as a win-now team.
Lillard has spent his entire 11-year career with the Trail Blazers, reaching the All-Star Game seven times. He led the team to the postseason in eight of those seasons but never got further than the Western Conference Final.
