Miami Heat fans, stop the celebration and don't count your chickens until they hatch.
Everybody expects Damian Lillard to eventually end up in South Beach, but the Portland Trail Blazers are being stingy with their asking price and now, another 'mystery' Eastern Conference team has tossed their hat in the mix.
In an appearance on 'NBA Today,' ESPN insider Marc J. Spears said the Heat are not the only team lurking in the Lillard sweepstakes.
The 33-year-old has four years left on his contract and cannot, under league rules, engage in a protracted holdout without risking serious financial losses. Spears was not comfortable naming this mystery suitor, so we shall engage in a game of educated guessing instead.
Here are the candidates.
No. 3 mystery Damian Lillard suitor: Toronto Raptors
This is probably the kind of situation Lillard hopes to avoid with all his blustering Miami-only posturing. The Toronto Raptors aren't necessarily equipped to trade for Lillard and field a top-end contender, but every move Masai Ujiri and the front office has made over the last few years suggests an ongoing (if futile and ill-fated) desire to contend at all costs.
The Raptors do have the kind of young talent that would interest the Blazers, who have more guards than they know what to do with. The Raptors have zero guards, but a brimming collection of long, defensively-oriented wings. Scottie Barnes? O.G. Anunoby? Those are players who would look mighty good next to Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons.
Hypothetically, let's say Toronto manages to pair Lillard with 29-year-old Pascal Siakam. The Raptors would have two prime-ish stars with a competent supporting cast and a boundary-pushing new coach with a knack for offensive scheming. Suddenly, the Raptors aren't wanting for 3-point shooting or halfcourt creation. Suddenly, the Raptors are a real team.
Lillard would not be happy with this outcome — there's no way around that — but there's not much he can realistically do without sacrificing game checks and future movability. So, if the Raptors get brave and decide to make another all-in push at contending, don't be shocked in Lillard heads north instead of south.
No. 2 mystery Damian Lillard suitor: Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets were mentioned long ago as a potential Lillard landing spot before he made the Heat his sole object of desire. Lillard's friendship with Mikal Bridges is public knowledge and there's reason to believe the Nets, who have no incentive to tank after trading all their picks for James Harden, could seek a path back to contention.
Lillard represents just such a path. Sure, it's not Miami, but he'd get to play under the bright lights of NYC with his good buddy Mikal, who emerged as a bonafide star after his own trade relocation last season. Bridges is an elite wing defender who complements Lillard as a spot-up shooter and bursty driver. Bridges is slightly overtaxed as a No. 1 option, but as a No. 2 with a killer mid-range jumper and a DPOY runner-up on resume, he would thrive.
The Nets have all the picks from the Durant and Irving trades, as well as a bountiful collection of quality young players — Nicolas Claxton, Dariq Whitehead, Noah Clowney, Cam Thomas, Day'Ron Sharpe — to toss into potential packages. The Heat can only muster a good-not-great package, so there's a real chance the Nets can beat Miami in a bidding war.
Brooklyn's poor guard depth was a topic of conversation last season. Spencer Dinwiddie was the only reliable playmaker after the trade deadline. Like the Raptors, though, the Nets have wings and bigs for days. That's good from a roster balance perspective, and it means Portland could take interest in the trade bait Sean Marks is (maybe) dangling.
No. 1 mystery Damian Lillard suitor: New York Knicks
The New York Knicks squeaked into the James Harden rumor mill before Philadelphia closed the phone lines. Maybe Leon Rose dialed up Portland instead of hanging up the phone. The Knicks are notorious star-hunters with a big market to back up their aspirations. Lillard would certainly elate the packed crowds in MSG.
New York made it to the second round of the playoffs despite severe offensive limitations and a head coach with a spotty postseason track record. Jalen Brunson was a sensation, tearing up the Cleveland Cavaliers' defense before giving the Heat an honest run for their money in the conference semis. His poise and shot-making craft form the bedrock of New York's competitive dreams.
It's fair to wonder if pairing two small guards who are limited defenders is the best route to contention, but Lillard and Brunson would wreak havoc on Eastern Conference defenses all season. Brunson loves to operate in the paint and create out of isos, but he also spent the early portion of his career playing off of Luka Doncic. He knows how to operate as a spacer and off-ball slasher. Meanwhile, Lillard would benefit from another high-level creator as he begins to age into the twilight of his career.
The Knicks can feasibly engineer a lineup that includes Lillard, Brunson, and two-time All-NBA forward Julius Randle. Randle's rollicking downhill physicality and frontcourt playmaking chops would complement Lillard well. The opposite is also true; Lillard's presence would better optimize Randle's unique offensive role, which often oscillates dangerously between essential connective tissue and ball-hog.
The Knicks have been diligently saving up their draft picks for a big swing. Joel Embiid has been tossed around as a favorite target, but there's no indication the 7-footer is leaving Philly any time soon. If the Knicks are impatient, don't be shocked if Dame ends up in the Big Apple.
