New Team ‘Cannot Be Ignored’ in Damian Lillard Trade Talks, Says Insider

The Miami Heat are believed to be the frontrunner to acquire Lillard, but one insider writes that the Jazz also is worth monitoring.

The Heat may want Damian Lillard, and the Blazers star himself may want to head to South Beach, but there are plenty of other teams at least contemplating the idea of throwing a wrench in that plan.

Although Miami doesn’t have the strongest potential trade package, the widespread belief still seems to be that the Heat will find a way to pull off a deal for Lillard.

But as longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein revealed on his Substack chat for The Stein Line, the Jazz and CEO Danny Ainge make for a “fascinating concept” in the Lillard discussions. Stein believes Ainge would “just do it if” the deal were right for Utah and cites that it’s unknown if Lillard has registered a firm outlook on the Jazz.

“Utah and Lillard is such a fascinating concept. Ainge being Ainge … I’m sure he would just do it if the deal was right. Portland? Would the Blazers really trade Dame somewhere he doesn’t want to go? I honestly don’t know if Dame has registered a firm position on the Jazz but it is a layer to the story that cannot be ignored,” Stein wrote.

The argument for the Jazz to be a team to monitor is a fair one, especially considering the draft capital the team has accumulated in recent years. Lillard also played college basketball at Weber State in Ogden, Utah.

The argument could be made that Utah could put together arguably the strongest potential trade package for Lillard, assuming the Jazz opt to ramp up their pursuit despite knowing of the star guard’s interest in landing in Miami.