Miami Heat Heavily Favored To Acquire Damian Lillard

Could Damian Lillard be packing up his bags for South Beach? According to oddsmakers at Bovada, the Miami Heat have established themselves as the clear favorites to land Lillard. Currently, Lillard has -400 odds to be traded to the Heat from the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Heat have an implied probability of 80% to acquire the seven-time NBA All-Star. Despite numerous individual accolades, Lillard has never been close to winning an NBA title. He has never reached an NBA Finals in his 11-year career. A trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2019 is the most success that he’s had in Portland.

As Lillard approaches 33 years old, the dynamic guard hopes to join a contender while still in his prime. Lillard is coming off a career-high season with 32.2 points per game on 46.3% shooting from the field. He might be on the wrong side of 30, but Lillard is still one of the finest point guards in the NBA.

The Trail Blazers are under no obligation to part ways with Lillard. He has two years remaining on a four-year $176 million deal in Portland. However, with a player option for the 2024-2025 season, the Trail Blazers realistically would have one more season with Lillard.

If the Trail Blazers aren’t ecstatic about their trade options at the moment, they could wait it out and evaluate their options closer to the start of the 2023-24 season or at the trade deadline. Dragging this out likely isn’t in anyone’s best interest, though.

Miami Heat Fresh Off Improbable Run To NBA Finals

Lillard would be joining a Heat team that is coming off a trip to the NBA Finals. Adding Lillard to the team would instantly make the Heat a significant contender to go back to the NBA Finals in 2024.

As a play-in team, the Heat had long odds to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy entering the playoffs. Following a loss to the Atlanta Hawks in the Play-In Tournament, the Heat had impossible odds at +37000.