2023-07-22 10:32:00
Three weeks after Damian Lillard’s transfer request, things have hardly changed in this case. The Blazers superstar still wants to join Miami and only Miami, while Portland continues to take its time assessing the market. Result, the saga does not advance, which frustrates more and more the Heat.
When Damian Lillard publicly announced his desire to join Miami after his transfer request, it was believed that the Florida franchise was in an ideal position to recover Dame. But since then, the Blazers have been very clear about their intention to get the best possible consideration, whether in Miami or elsewhere, and that obviously doesn’t help Pat Riley’s business.
Unconvinced by the assets of the Heat in a potential exchange, the Blazers are clearly in no hurry to transfer their franchise player, who still has four years on his current contract. And not only are they not in a hurry, but they also like to play the game of cat and mouse if we are to believe it. insider Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report.
“Obviously the Miami Heat are frustrated that things are going slow. Portland tells them, ‘Give us your best deal.’ Miami would like to know what Portland wants and Miami doesn’t have that answer. They feel like things could go faster if Portland said exactly what they want. […] So far, there is no real communication.”
As indicated by Chris Haynes, close to Lillard and therefore rather well placed to inform us on this file, the Heat must make other moves before the transfer of Dame to be able to offer a sufficient package to Portland, or contact other teams to set up a three or four-way deal in order to be able to convince the Blazers. But the vagueness left by the latter makes the task more difficult than expected for Miami.
Heat ‘Frustrated’ with Blazers’ Damian Lillard Trade Talks
— SB Nation NBA ???? (@SBNationNBA) July 22, 2023
We are typically in a negotiating game, where the Blazers want to use their position to try to recover as many assets as possible. According to recent rumors, a package consisting of three or four first-round draft picks, with expiring contracts and one or more young talents, could do the trick. But Portland does not need – in the middle of the summer – to rush to achieve this important transfer for the future of the franchise. According to some sources from Miami, the Blazers would even consider waiting until the next training camp, to potentially try to convince Dame to play again in Portland…
If the position taken by the Blazers since the beginning of this file is understandable, the frustration of the Heat is also. Indeed, the Florida team finds itself somewhat blocked during this Free Agency 2023. Miami missed opportunities and let players slip away (notably Gabe Vincent and Max Strus) in order to keep the opportunity to recruit Damian Lillard via a transfer. If Pat Riley and his minions end up getting it, this endless wait will become nothing but a bad memory. On the other hand, in the opposite case, the Heat could return next season by finding themselves much weakened…
In the middle of the summer vacation period, and given Portland’s current intentions, the transfer of Damian Lillard may take quite a while before materializing. Perhaps the situation will unblock around September or October, at the start of training camps and when the season will come to an end…
Source texte : Chris Haynes (Bleacher Report) via #thisleague UNCUT podcast
1690070944
#Heat #frustrated #Blazers