Report: Miami Heat Internal “Dilemma” Holding Up Lillard Trade

Damian Lillard wants to be traded to the Miami Heat. The Miami Heat badly want to acquire Damian Lillard. Yet, we're nowhere close to a deal happening. Portland Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin said this week that a Damian Lillard trade "could take months" to come to fruition. 

We're now learning what a big part of the hold-up is from the Miami Heat's end of things. According to Insider Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Heat have a "dilemma." And it stems from the fact that they've already lost some key pieces in free agency, like Gabe Vincent (to the LA Lakers) and Max Strus (to the Cleveland Cavaliers). 

With Tyler Herro, and possibly Duncan Robinson to be main parts of any deal heading to Portland (and/or 3rd or 4th teams), if the Heat were now forced to add other key supplemental pieces into a trade, such as Caleb Martin, Nikola Jović or Jaime Jaquez Jr., their roster would be even more depleted. 

That’s where the slow pace of the Heat-Blazers talks has made it even harder to reach a deal point. Miami has already missed out on so many affordable free agents who might have come its way had the Lillard addition already been made.

Amick notes that players like Taurean Prince (who went to the Lakers) and other free agents could have helped fill out the Heat's roster, but that ship has largely sailed with free agency two weeks old now and most of the useful pieces already scooped up. 

Instead, the Heat have tried to get the Blazers to take draft picks in return. They have reportedly offered three first-round picks to Portland.

But that's apparently not getting it done for the Blazers, who have "encouraged" other teams to step up with trade offers. 

Will Lillard's legendary patience with Portland finally come to an end as this saga drags on?

Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports