Damian Lillard’s Desire To Remain A Portland Trail Blazer Means Trouble For The Miami Heat

NBA insider Shams Charania says Damian Lillard “wants to be” a Portland Trail Blazer going forward.

Miami Heat target Damian Lillard once again expressed his aspirations to stay with the Portland Trail Blazers and build within, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

“Damian Lillard has left it up to Portland,” Charania said on the Pat McAfee Show. “He wants to be there and he wants that team to get better.”

Charnia said a possible trade hinges on what the organization does to aid Lillard.

“If nothing comes about, I do think Damian Lillard will have to look very hard at his future in Portland,” Charnia said. “But if they do make the team better between now and Thursday, then I think you’ll see Damian Lillard be there. So I think as much as people want to make about him, I think it’s really on Portland.”

That’s the last thing Heat fans wanted to hear.

Lillard’s words about team loyalty are admirable and commended by many. However, the lack of star talent around him throughout his career made it difficult to compete. He still has zero Finals appearances despite being one of the greatest shooters of all time. Many fans, even those in Portland, voiced their desires for him to leave and compete on a contender. Clearly, Lillard still wants to remain on the team and develop as a unit.

The window of optimism for the Heat signing another star player is slowly closing. It may be the start of the offseason, but it looks like they are going to miss out on both Bradley Beal and Lillard, two stars they were favorites to acquire after the Finals concluded.

Jayden Armant is a contributor to Inside the Heat. He is a student at Howard University. He can be reached at jaydenshome14@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.