I’m pretty sick of articles like [this](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10082732-damian-lillard-trade-rumors-blazers-unmotivated-to-engage-with-heat-to-find-deal), [this](https://allucanheat.com/2023/07/11/miami-heat-trail-blazers-reality-damian-lillard-joe-cronin/), and [this](https://fansided.com/2023/07/12/nba-rumors-miami-heat-laughed-blazers-damian-lillard/) making the Blazers out to be the bad guys here without a trace of questioning the Heat FO and their motives. So I went ahead and wrote my frustrations with a similar bias but tilted the other way.
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It is time to face the reality that the Miami Heat are not interested in Damian Lillard. Despite all the media hype parroting Miami front office talking points, it is not Joe Cronin and the Blazers who refuse to consider serious trade packages. From what reports gather, the Heat are offering a package centered around Tyler Herro, three first-round picks, and one or two salary fillers. According to Kristen Wong, Portland’s first counteroffer was so ridiculous that it was met with laughter. Sounds like the collective “pfffft” from Blazer fans at Miami’s supposedly best offer.
Why would Pat Riley imagine adding another guard to an already packed backcourt as a compelling offer for a generational guard regarded as a unanimous first ballot entry into the Hall of Fame? Rather than blaming Cronin alone, maybe it is time to consider that Riley and company are not willing to sacrifice the franchise’s future for a return on investment of only a few years. As the media likes to remind us, Dame is on the backside of his prime and only has a few peak years left.
The media paints a picture where Miami has all the leverage. But let’s face it, only one of these teams is in “win now” mode and it ain’t Rip City. The Blazers don’t stand to lose much by waiting this out, the Heat risk a title window. So far, there is little evidence Riley is interested in making a serious push.
While critics argue that prolonging the inevitable will distract Portland’s young core, there is no mention of how Jimmy and Bam may grow frustrated at the Miami front office for failing to have a sense of urgency in putting together a championship roster. Are the Heat willing to lose the confidence of their star players by making them wait until the trade deadline to make a serious move? Time will tell, but don’t expect the media to consider it.
The Blazers may have already received the best offer they will get from the Heat, but let’s stop pretending that this solely reflects Cronin’s lack of experience and not Riley’s possible tepid take on Lillard.
For Pat Riley, Dame might be worth the Dolla.
The Blazers owe it to themselves, the fans, and even Dame to look elsewhere.
by BrushandPen
12 Comments
Yes.
I wish I could up-vote this more than once! 
Bleacher report, a heat website, and some hack writer nobody has heard of.
Talk about having a persecution complex.
I don’t think this is accurate. I think most people agree the Miami offer (DRob/Herro/2 picks/1 swap) is really bad and not a sign that Miami is willing to negotiate in good faith.
The only people who disagree are Miami fans.
Even the folks who are squarely focused on Dame’s trade request and ‘getting him where he wants to go’ would agree that the above offer is a joke.
Cronin isn’t going to pull the trigger on nuking his career and his roster. LMA’s departure still has massive ripple effects today. Doing that above-listed deal would have an even greater effect.
Can Miami get to a more palatable offer?
Maybe?
But that would take a TON of gymnastics by Miami. And they’re trying to feint like conceding Jovic/Jaquez/Martin into the deal, or taking back Portland’s starting center, would be these huge concessions—the reality is the work needs to be done throwing all of those pieces in and trying to find picks that probably aren’t out there with 2-3-4 additional teams.
Seems pretty unlikely to me.
I like this. Go cross post to nba
Yes!! Let’s look else where at all the other packages. Which other team has your favorite package?
I won’t lie, I haven’t been following the national narrative about this too closely. However, the one thing I’ve never misunderstood from the NBA, writers, pundits, and especially other front offices is small markets sole existence is to trade talent to big markets. Small market teams should be happy to have an NBA team at all and thereafter we should do whatever is in the best interest of the bigger areas. Maybe I’m wrong but it is absolutely the messaging I see.
>According to Kristen Wong, Portland’s first counteroffer was so ridiculous that it was met with laughter.
The only way that this could be fair is if we asked for Bam.
Give this person a contract.
Honestly, Dame in Toronto would be pretty dope if he was up for it. A Dame, Siakam, OG team would be solid. Bend you over masai would never send Scottie and picks though. He’d be like “Dame for Scottie straight up”
Where did Kristen Wong report that our offer was met with laughter?
Edit – she’s dumb. The title of the article says they laughed at our first offer for Dame, but the article itself quotes the Heat laughing about us asking the Heat about Bam, which was in regards to the #3 pick. Not Dame. Bad reporting. https://fansided.com/2023/07/12/nba-rumors-miami-heat-laughed-blazers-damian-lillard/
Before the playoffs started, when we were all coming up with players for us to get to put next to Dame, Jimmy Butler and Bam were two of my top choices. The heat were a play-in team! I was thinking they were very possible if Heat pivoted to reload.
Of course the heat go on a playoffs run and now are “win now”, but as recently as a few months ago this Heat team was nowhere, Jimmy was injured and Bam was coming off a disappointing season.