Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard has requested a trade, formally asking the organization to trade him after 11 seasons with the team.
Lillard met with Portland’s front office before free agency, agreeing to provide the club with time to prove it could build a championship-caliber roster around him.
After failing to land Draymond Green and drafting guard Scoot Henderson instead of trading the No. 3 overall pick, Lillard’s decision was made.
- Damian Lillard stats (2022-’23): 32.2 PPG, 7.3 APG, 4.8 RPG 46.3% FG, .205 WS/48
As first reported by TNT’s Chris Haynes and confirmed by Shams Charania of The Athletic, Lillard told the Trail Blazers on Saturday morning that he wants to be traded.
- Damian Lillard contract: $45.64 million salary (2023-’24), $48.787 million salary (2024-’25), $58.545 million salary (2025-’26), $63.2 million player option (2026)
Lillard will be under contract for the next three seasons, owed just under $100 million through 2024 before his two-year, $121.77 million contract extension kicks in. The deal does not include a no-trade clause, but Portland is expected to keep in mind Lillard’s desires as it speaks to trade partners this summer.
Turning 33 years old on July 15, Lillard is a seven-time All-Star selection and has been named to the All-NBA Team seven times in his career. Originally drafted by Portland with the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Lillard will finish as the team’s all-time leader in points (19,376) and three-pointers made (2,387), rank second all-time in assists (5,151), third in games played (769).
Evaluating the top Damian Lillard trade landing spots
As expected, per Chris Haynes, Lillard’s preferred destinations are the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets. The All-Star guard said on a podcast this summer that Miami and Brooklyn were the two teams he had the most interest in playing for if he ever left the Trail Blazers.
Related: NBA trade rumors
- Miami Heat: The Miami Heat held off on acquiring Bradley Beal with the hope that Damian Lillard would request a trade this summer. Following his decision, Miami is the early favorite to acquire him. The Heat will likely offer a trade package including Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic and multiple future first-round picks to the Trail Blazers.
- Miami can offer Portland unprotected first-round picks in 2028 and 2030, with first-round pick swaps in 2027 and 2029.
- Brooklyn Nets: Lillard also expressed a strong desire to play for the Nets. Brooklyn can offer more future unprotected first-round picks than Miami, giving the Nets an advantage in trade talks if Portland prioritizes long-term assets and Lillard is willing to play for Brooklyn over teaming up with Jimmy Butler in Miami. However, per Charania, Lillard specifically wants to play for Miami.
- Brooklyn’s trade assets include three 2029 first-round picks (Nets, Suns, Mavs), Phoenix’s first-round picks in 2025 and ’27, along with swap rights in 2028 and 2030. The Nets can also offer Day’Ron Sharpe or Cam Thomas, with Ben Simmons contract used to match salaries.
NBA teams interested in Damian Lillard
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Heat will have interest in Lillard along with the Los Angeles Clippers. Prior to Lillard’s trade request, Los Angeles was believed to be focused on acquiring James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers, but they’ve now added Lillard to the radar.
While Wojnarowski also noted that the Philadelphia 76ers are interested in Lillard, Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer said he’s heard pretty consistently that Philadelphia would not be interested in Lillard if they have to include Tyrese Maxey in a deal.
Importantly, per NBA writer Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, the 76ers and Clippers are not on Lillard’s preferred trade list. He’s only interested in being traded to Miami or Brooklyn.
