NBA training camp is just around the corner and Damian Lillard is still a Trail Blazer. (Photo by Amanda Loman/Getty Images)
As the final days of September approach training camp across the NBA, the Portland Trail Blazers have intensified talks with rival front offices this week to pursue the fullest possible return for seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard, league sources said Yahoo with Sports.
With initial discussions in July based on Lillard’s trade request failing to result in a deal to his preferred destination, Miami, or another potential landing spot like Brooklyn, the start of training camp — and media day on Oct. 2 — loomed as an unofficial deadline that Portland part ways with Lillard and begin a new Blazers era in earnest. That’s even more true than the ongoing momentum in Philadelphia, where James Harden is still hoping for a move to the LA Clippers, sources said.
The Blazers have young lottery picks in Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, as well as 24-year-old scorer Anfernee Simons. The return of the 33-year-old Lillard, who still has four years and more than $200 million left on his contract – especially after such a public spectacle – is in complete contrast to Portland starting a new chapter in which the main characters have already been established . Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s staff can still warm to the idea of Harden reporting to camp to play for a title contender and earn the trade value the Sixers need to move on from the All-Star. How realistic is that? Well, Harden has already claimed that he will never be part of an organization that includes Philadelphia President Daryl Morey.
There are more fireworks ahead for the Sixers, whether at their training facility in Camden, New Jersey, or when the team briefly relocates to Colorado Springs, Colorado for training camp. The situation in Portland is quickly moving toward a cleaner resolution as increasing rumors of potential trade partners outside of Lillard’s preferred Heat area reverberate throughout the league. How quickly the Blazers are able to get negotiations over the finish line will depend on how general manager Joe Cronin and his front office handle the various multi-team frameworks Portland has been exploring in recent days, according to people familiar with the matter League employees.
At that point, Toronto and Chicago were the two possible destinations for Lillard that were most discussed by league officials. While a number of NBA personnel believe Portland will sign Miami before making a deal with another suitor, the Heat have not given primary consideration to the Blazers’ recent dialogue surrounding Lillard, league sources said. Additionally, the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz have emerged as fringe teams that could make bigger deals that could ease Lillard’s departure from the Blazers.
Putting together a blockbuster like this requires putting together many parts. One point in the evolving Lillard negotiations appears clear: Portland has seriously considered acquiring center Deandre Ayton from the Phoenix Suns as part of a multi-team deal for Lillard, league sources confirmed to Yahoo Sports. Arizona Sports and PHNX previously reported the Suns’ possible involvement.
According to sources, the Blazers have expressed interest in Ayton in the past. This current idea appears to center on sending Portland center Jusuf Nurkic back to Phoenix, giving the Suns a suitable defensive anchor for new head coach Frank Vogel and a pick-and-roll partner for Phoenix’s roster of perimeter playmakers to offer who don’t count on the volume. It is assumed that Ayton wants a lot of touches on offense.
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This is a difficult dynamic for the Suns, as Phoenix claimed that Ayton would not be available for trade this summer, sources said, while Vogel publicly supported the former No. 1 overall pick as an “All-Star-level talent” in his introductory process Press availability. If a trade for Nurkic never materializes, the Suns will need Ayton behind Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in their hopes of winning a title. What they don’t need is a potentially aggrieved big man who thinks the Suns actively tried to move him for Nurkic. Still, there’s an argument to be made that splitting Ayton’s contract into two valuable rotation pieces on Phoenix’s books would give Vogel significant depth and strengthen his championship ambitions.
Nurkic’s average annual salary of $17.5 million is roughly half of Ayton’s $33.2 million paycheck. So additional accounting would have to be done to fulfill this part of the Lillard puzzle. Adding in Raptors forward OG Anunoby’s $18 million salary would help balance the cash if Masai Ujiri’s front office finally moves on from one of its prized core pieces after dealing with several before the February deadline and throughout this offseason has flirted with trading scenarios. All of this flirtation with little result — aside from the return of Jakob Poeltl — has left many NBA players skeptical that Toronto will actually pull the trigger.
However, trading Anunoby and other compensation for Lillard is a very different prospect than signing him for picks from a team like Memphis or New York. But what goes back to the Blazers? And if you’re in Portland, could the chance to move Anunoby reignite talks with suitors like the Knicks and contribute to the greatest return Cronin’s staff is seeking? Otherwise, Anunoby might just stay in Portland.
There are plenty of options to explore, which makes the Raptors one of, if not the biggest threat to sign Lillard outside of the Heat – similar to the Cavaliers’ surprise acquisition of Donovan Mitchell last September. However, don’t count on Scottie Barnes to be the centerpiece of Portland’s return. According to sources, Toronto has made it clear to all inquiring parties that Barnes is the Raptors’ franchise focus. Any deal with Toronto could include recent first-round pick Gradey Dick, according to sources, as well as then-rookie winger Ochai Agbaji and then-rookie center Walker Kessler, both of whom were considered additional draft compensation upon Utah’s return for Mitchell and. Rudy Gobert most recently officiated in the offseason. With any deal with Miami, league officials expect Portland to also seek Jaime Jaquez Jr., the Heat’s most recent first-round pick.
It seems unlikely that All-Star forward Pascal Siakam would fit into a package for Portland. Siakam is entering the final year of his lucrative contract and has not yet completed the costly contract extension he is eligible to sign. Paying Siakam would be an odd commitment from the Blazers after they gave Jerami Grant a five-year, $160 million contract in July when Portland had no interest in supporting Siakam’s next contract. And would the Blazers’ rebuild for an All-NBA talent in his best season really make long-term sense?
Anunoby brings his own financial considerations. The 26-year-old swingman has a player option for the 2024-25 season, met with multiple agencies before leaving Klutch Sports for CAA and informed various representatives, sources said, that he was looking for bigger ball-handling opportunities that could This could result in a corresponding salary increase. Maybe there’s more of a chance for that in Portland, where Barnes’ development won’t get in the way of Anunoby’s. It’s hard to imagine Phoenix adding Anunoby’s next deal to its exorbitant payroll – as part of the three-team concept described above – but if there’s one ownership group currently willing to splurge on this scale, it is it the Suns leadership.
No matter how intense Chicago is here, for what the Blazers want to achieve, the Bulls don’t count on a partner as strong as Toronto. Chicago explored potential trade scenarios for Zach LaVine this offseason, league sources told Yahoo Sports, but Portland doesn’t appear interested in signing the All-Star guard. In Simons, the Blazers have an outstanding top athlete who has not reached LaVine’s performance level, but is also four years younger and earns almost half the salary. Perhaps Chicago can redirect LaVine to another destination and use this package to engage Portland, as mentioned on PHLY. Given his salary and injury history, there simply doesn’t appear to be a robust market for LaVine’s services. His availability has been known around the league since July, but he remains in Chicago.
Keep in mind that Utah will play a potential role in the outcome of these Lillard talks with three or four teams. If Portland ultimately does business with Miami, the Jazz — as well as the Bulls, Hornets and Nets — are considered a team interested in acquiring Tyler Herro from the Heat, sources said. And there are plenty of executives who would rather take Miami’s best package, if the Heat were so willing that could include Herro and Nikola Jovic to go along with Jaquez, Caleb Martin and others.
Many of these points will soon connect Lillard with the Blazers and head him to another franchise. How many actually come together and how many other teams and players are mixed in will depend on what Portland’s front office thinks is the best package it can put together – whether opposing personnel and fans agree or not.
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