As the Damian Lillard trade saga continues, summer will soon turn to fall, and fall means NBA training camps are just weeks away.
The Heat and Blazers. have tried to make it through the current starting division, but time is running out.
The good news for Portland is that, if the status quo remains, Lillard plans to at least show up and wear a uniform for the Blazers.
That’s according to journalist Shams Charania, who, speaking on The Rally podcast, said Lillard would at least acknowledge a return to Portland if a deal couldn’t be reached with Miami.
“Hopefully Portland and Miami will re-engage (in trade talks) before training camps start in the next two and a half weeks.
And really, at this point, I’m aware of the only two training camps that Damian Lillard would theoretically report to are Portland and Miami,” Charania said.
But the overall situation is still complicated.
In a way, Lillard reporting to Portland, even if he maintains his trade request, will put some pressure on the Heat in that it gives the Trail Blazers an outlet, a way to save face by keeping Lillard around without having to do anything So.
accept any deal Miami offers.
However, this doesn’t help Portland as the idea that Lillard won’t report to camp unless it’s in Portland or Miami means no other team will be involved in Lillard trade discussions .
If that’s the case, Lillard will continue to demand a trade.
“For example, if a team like Toronto traded for Damian Lillard, I don’t even believe Lillard would report it, I believe the need for a trade would still be there if he was traded to Toronto or whoever That’s different, really, who wants to take a chance in this situation,” Charania said.
“Teams around the league, since that trade request in early July, have included a guy like Damian Lillard At age 33, with $216 million remaining on his contract over the next four seasons, it would be extremely counter-ideal for him to join their program and want an immediate trade.
It seems silly that the Blazers and Heat have allowed this situation to go on for so long.
Miami can be patient because Lillard has no other credible suitors.
The Blazers can also be patient as the team is rebuilding and is expected to return to the NBA draft lottery.
They could have accomplished this feat with or without Lillard on board.
The situation is at a deadlock.
But eventually, both sides will realize that an agreement needs to be reached here.
“You look at this situation, the only thing you keep coming back to is, is it possible for Miami and Portland to reach a deal?
The league has really been on pause since July with a lot of big moves, people have been waiting for this and we’re still waiting to see what happens with Portland and Miami,” Charania said.
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com.
He has been writing for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for Sporting News.
Deveney is the author of seven non-fiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley Became Wrigley” and “Facing Michael Jordan.
” Learn more about Sean Deveney