The Portland Trail Blazers are running out of time to trade superstar Damian Lillard.
Portland has reportedly been trying to find a deal for Lillard before the start of training camp, but because of their high asking price, they’ve been unable to find a trade partner.
The Miami Heat have long been considered to be the most likely team to land Lillard, though they don’t have the required assets to entice the Trail Blazers.
With Miami unable to make an attractive enough offer, Portland’s been entertaining other teams’ interest.
There have been several teams who have reportedly shown interest in Lillard, including the Toronto Raptors.
Toronto has a history of being unafraid to trade for a star and it appears they’re serious about exploring the possibility of acquiring Lillard via NBA insider Marc Stein.
“The Toronto Raptors have convinced numerous teams around the league that their interest in trading for Lillard is genuine,” Stein said.
“The Raptors have convinced numerous teams around the NBA that their interest in trading for [Damian] Lillard is genuine.”
(via @TheSteinLine, https://t.co/IsVHMiWN8H pic.twitter.com/Qvd564nM7B
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 25, 2023
Masai Ujiri shocked the NBA when he decided to go after Kawhi Leonard and his gamble worked as the Raptors won their first-ever NBA Championship.
With a win-now roster headlined by Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, Ujiri could be angling to trade for Lillard and see if he can repeat his luck.
However, as Stein notes it seems as though Lillard isn’t interested in going to Toronto and remains steadfast in trying to make his way to Miami.
With training camp a few weeks away, it’ll be interesting to see what Portland ends up doing with its All-Star guard.
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