Damian Lillard Saying He's A Huge Fan Of Jimmy Butler Could Fuel Offseason Speculation

There has been much speculation about the Miami Heat having interest in Damian Lillard the past two offseasons

There has always been speculation about the Miami Heat having interest in Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard. 

On Saturday night, Lillard may have provided enough more reason to think it could happen one day. During an Instagram Live session following the Heat's loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 6, the subject of Butler surfaced. 

“I always liked Jimmy; you feel me? I always liked Jimmy," Lillard said. "It’s just that during the regular season I think Jimmy is kind of like Kawhi [Leonard] sometimes. They hit those stretches and like in the playoffs they turn into when everything is on the line, they just get more engaged. Jimmy is a dog for sure."

Last season Heat were rumored in talks with Lillard. This year, expect more talk about uniting the friends. Lillard is coming to grips that he will never win a title in Portland while Butler has established himself as the leader in Miami. 

Butler is averaging 28.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 16 games during this postseason. The Heat play the Celtics in Game 7 tonight, with the winner advancing to play the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals. The Heat are trying to become the second No. 8 seed to make the Finals, joining the 1999 New York Knicks. 

Lillard sounded as if he is rooting the Heat to pull it off. Last year they lost to the Celtics in Game 7 in Miami. 

“With Jimmy, it ain’t even just skill, It’s will, competitiveness, care, [and] heart," Lillard said. “I know that viewership is about to be crazy."