The Brooklyn Nets are one of several teams that have been linked to seven-time All-Star guard Damian Lillard after he requested a trade earlier in July.
However, Brooklyn is not willing to part with star forward Mikal Bridges in a trade with Portland. Meanwhile, Dame’s preferred destination seems to be the Miami Heat. In that scenario, guard Tyler Herro would be sent packing from Miami.
Flush with guards Shaedon Sharpe, Anfernee Simons and rookie Scoot Henderson, it’s safe to say that Portland wouldn’t have interest in Herro. According to Ian Begley of SNY, the same thing can’t be said for the Nets. The NBA insider reported recently that Brooklyn is interested in acquiring Herro in what would be a broader three-team deal sending Lillard to the Miami Heat.
Begley notes that draft pick compensation would head to Brooklyn with Herro in order for the team to help facilitate the blockbuster with Miami and Portland.
It’s not yet known what players would head out in the hypothetical trade. However, Herro’s $27 million price tag coupled with the Brooklyn Nets being $12.1 million over the cap gives us some possibilities. Ben Simmons has no trade value. In fact, Brooklyn would likely have to send out draft picks to rid itself of his contract. This leads us to the likes of Spencer Dinwiddie ($20.3 million) and Dorian Finney-Smith ($13.9 million) as possibilities.
As for Herro, it’s hard to imagine that the 23-year-old guard somehow has negative trade value given his recent production.
Related: Miami Heat’s planned Damian Lillard trade offer revealed
Tyler Herro stats (2021-23): 20.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.1 APG, 39% 3-point
Acquiring Herro would create a core group consisting of the aforementioned Bridges as well as the recently re-signed Cameron Johnson in Brooklyn.
As for the broader Lillard three-team trade hypothetical, things are pointing in the direction of him potentially heading to the Miami Heat.
Said deal would include several first-round picks and pick swaps. Recent first-round picks Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic would also be among those headed to the Pacific Northwest in the blockbuster.