The Milwaukee Bucks have performed below expectations and the Miami Heat are reportedly looking to capitalize on it. The Bucks have started the 2024-25 season with a 1-5 record, with their only win coming in their season opener against a depleted Philadelphia 76ers squad.
Initially, there were rumors linking Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat. However, Heat insider Ira Winderman has suggested that the Bucks could trade Damian Lillard to the Heat instead.
This rumor comes after a suggestion that the Bucks could try to shake up their roster by trading away the eight-time All-Star.
The Miami Heat were previously interested in pairing Damian Lillard with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. The Heat had submitted a trade package to the Portland Trail Blazers.
However, the Blazers dealt Lillard to the Bucks as part of a three-team trade. The deal also included the Phoenix Suns.
The Blazers received DeAndre Ayton, Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, the Bucks’ 2029 first-round pick as well as a pair of pick swaps for 2028 and 2030. Meanwhile, the Suns received Grayson Allen, Keon Johnson, Nassir Little and Jusuf Nurkic.
Lillard’s first season with the Bucks was tumultuous. After a 30-13 start under coach Adrian Griffin, he was fired and replaced with Doc Rivers. Rivers failed to meet the same success as his predecessor, going 17-19.
The Bucks were eliminated in six games from the first round of the 2024 Playoffs by the Indiana Pacers. However, Giannis missed every game and Damian Lillard missed Games 4 and 5.
As for the Miami Heat, they were also eliminated in round one by the eventual champions, Boston Celtics.
Who did the Miami Heat offer to the Portland Trail Blazers for Damian Lillard?
The Miami Heat were reportedly extremely serious about acquiring Damian Lillard from the Trail Blazers, they deposited multiple offers.
Most of these offers had Tyler Herro as well as a number of first-round picks as the best assets that the Heat offered. Aside from them, the names of players like Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson and Nikola Jovic were also rumored to be included.
These offers also come after the fact that Lillard named the Heat as his preferred destination. Despite the Heat’s persistence and Lillard naming Miami as the team he wants to play for, the Blazers just did not seem enticed enough by their offers.
Damian Lillard is now 34 years old but his value to a team wanting to win now hasn’t changed. He remains one of the best facilitators and scorers in the league, averaging 26.2 points and 6.7 assists in six games this season.
His last two performances were quite polarizing. He scored only four points on a 1-for-12 shooting clip including 0-for-6 against the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday.
He followed that up with a season-high 41 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday. He shot 13-for-24 which included a 10-for-15 clip from the 3-point line.
