Damian Lillard Lists Two "Obvious" Top Choices In Potential Trade Talks

Damian Lillard has made it clear to the Portland Trail Blazers — he wants to win now, and that No. 3 pick in this year's draft better be used to bring in some serious talent... or else. 

"We got an opportunity, asset-wise, to build a team that can compete. If we can’t do that," warns Lillard, "…then it’s a separate conversation we would have to have.”

In light of that comment, should a trade request be made, hypothetically of course, where would he like to land? He made no bones about it: the Miami Heat, or the Brooklyn Nets.

Damian Lillard says Miami is ‘obviously’ his first choice over Boston, New York and Brooklyn in a hypothetical trade

“Bam is my dawg”

(Via @Showtime ) pic.twitter.com/9XhBZq3kIp

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) June 7, 2023

Speaking on Showtime Sports' The Last Stand, Lillard quickly responded "Miami, obviously! Bam is my dog, for real! Miami is the obvious one, Brooklyn is another obvious one, because Mikal Bridges is my dog, too."

Lillard has made it clear all along that he'd love to stay—and win—in Portland. But he also made it crystal clear to the Blazers that he is not interested in the team adding more youth in this year's draft.

“I’m just not interested in that. That’s not a secret,’’ Lillard said after the season. “I want a chance to go for it. And if the route is to (draft youth), then that’s not my route.”

Fans of the Heat and Nets are waiting with bated breath to see what the Trail Blazers do with that No. 3 pick in this month's draft, as that could set off a huge chain of events around the league.  

In fact, his former teammate, CJ McCollum, made a pretty bold statement about Lillard's future: “If I was a betting man, I would say this is the last that we've seen of him [in Portland].”

Photo: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports