The Miami Heat recently pulled off a blockbuster 3-team trade with the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz on Monday, acquiring star scorer Norman Powell from the Clippers in the process.
Heat team president Pat Riley and the rest of the franchise’s front office were praised by the broader NBA media landscape after the deal was finalized, as the group landed a fringe All-Star guard that could assist their All-Star Tyler Herro in the backcourt.
Powell’s addition to the squad could help the team to become a dark-horse favorite to the come out of a wide-open Eastern Conference in 2025-26, but it’s possible that the team may figure that there’s more work left to be done.
In fact, ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel recently reported that the Heat are once again in the running to bring in a 9-time All-Star and NBA 75th Anniversary Team member, Damian Lillard, for the second time in the past three summers.
“Damian Lillard is in no rush to decide on his future,” Siegel wrote Tuesday evening.
“After suffering a torn Achilles and being released by the (Milwaukee) Bucks, Lillard and his camp have talked with several notable teams in playoff-contending positions, league sources said.”
In the immediate aftermath of the Milwaukee Bucks‘ decision to waive the future Hall of Fame inductee on Monday, Siegel shared some of the superstar guard’s top potential destinations.
“The Heat have long been linked to Lillard even before he was traded to the Bucks in 2023, and both the Boston Celtics and (Golden State) Warriors find themselves near the top of the list for Lillard as well.”
While teams like the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics could entice Lillard due to their championship victories this decade in 2022 and 2024, respectively, the Heat’s pair of NBA Finals appearances in the past half-decade may be enough to lure the all-time great point guard away.
Lillard’s incredibly unfortunate Achilles injury will likely keep him out for all of the 2025-26 campaign, regardless of where he lands. Even still, the 7-time All-NBA Team selection can easily elevate any contender in the league to odds-on title favorites.
In 58 appearances with the Bucks this past regular season, Lillard contributed 24.9 points, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds while knocking down 37.6% of his 9.0 attempts from three-point range and 92.1% of his looks at the free-throw line.
After striking out on Lillard via trade during the 2023 offseason, the Heat will have another strong chance to welcome the legendary scoring guard aboard prior to the 2025-26 campaign.
