The Trail Blazers will look BEYOND the Heat for Damian Lillard trade - Woj | SportsCenter

Let's bring in the best NBA Insider, how has the reaction been in Portland to Damian Lillard's request? Kevin Joe Cronin. Portland's general manager recently issued a statement acknowledging that

trade

request from Damian Lillard but also saying Portland is going to do what is necessary. The best for that organization and in speaking today with the teams that have spoken with Joe Cronin and the Portland front office, it is clear to them that Portland wants to recover a star-level return for Damian Lillard, which they have seen from other great players from the league to get in return and They are going to

look

and are

look

ing way beyond the Miami Heat which is the team that Mark Spears reported today that Damon Lillard said he would like to be

trade

d when you look at that list and the draft picks available to them , Players.

On that roster, they're certainly more attractive teams in the league with assets that would better fit what Portland would want, which is young players, really good first-round picks, maybe salary cap relief, all those things that you try to get when a star player leaves. It's going to be an interesting process because unlike Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard doesn't have a no-trade clause, meaning he has no say in where he goes, he's under contract for another four years, so he doesn't have the threat of be exchanged. to a team he doesn't want to be on and says, "Well, I'll leave in free agency." Portland is in this market trying to find a deal that

will

give them the best return on Damian Lillard, regardless of his preference.

The other teams, like us, listen, there is no shortage. I think about contending teams who would like to see what the cost is for Damian Lillard and I think what teams are really trying to figure out is how dramatically the market has changed with his new CBA. deal, uh, for a player like Damon Lillard to take on Bradley Beal without a first-round pick for him in that deal without an outstanding young player coming back in that trade, what's he going to rule in the last two years of his deal? at 35 and? At 36 years old, he

will

average $60 million a year, certainly teams like Philadelphia and the Clippers.

I think the Brooklyn Nets will see what the price of this is, but I think it's still an emerging market and Portland is ready. To look at everything, not just the Miami Heat, where Damian Lillard would prefer to go, I want to ask you about the Lakers who have been furiously reshuffling their roster, got back on board with Ruby Hachimura, Austin Reeves, earlier today, poached Gabe Vincent. I've been adding other pieces here D'Angelo Russell for two years, how did that deal get done? Yes, two years, 37 million dollars agreed this afternoon, he is their starting point guard with the Lakers and, although he did not finish the season strong in their last playoff.

Series he played pretty well after coming over from Minnesota in that trade deadline deal. He is still a young player. If they lost D'Angelo Russell for nothing in free agency, they really would have been limited to almost the bare minimum. Market to replace them. It was important to keep him under contract, they brought him back in a trade because there are still a lot of fans in that organization, he's going to have a whole offseason, a whole training camp with this team and I think they're still hoping that DeAngelo Russell is going to be a playmaker. game in the next few years with the Lakers, we've kept you away from your phone long enough adrianowski here with great insight on SportsCenter other notable moves today the Hornets are off to a great start on a five-year rookie max extension with lamelo The ball could be worth as much as 260 million.

The ball is not yet 22 years old. He is one of six players to average at least 20 points to go along with six rebounds and assists over the past two seasons. Charlotte selected Brandon Miller with the second overall pick last month. We expect them to form the core of the team for years to come. The Knicks are sending the former number eight overall pick. Oh, we came to Indiana for a couple of second-round picks. Toppen has been a rotational player in New York, but he started only 15 games in three seasons. He would have been eligible for an extension to his rookie contract, perhaps giving insight into why the Knicks made the move.

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