Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald revealed that the Miami Heat were deprived of the chance to present their top offer for Damian Lillard when they declined to include Bam Adebayo in any trade talks.
Reports from last September unveiled the Heat’s readiness to assemble an enticing package for the Portland Trail Blazers, involving multiple draft picks, Tyler Herro, and expiring contracts.
However, the Blazers showed little interest, leading to Lillard’s eventual trade to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he joined forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Reflecting on the turn of events, Lillard admitted to Marc J. Spears of Andscape that while he initially favored Miami, his agent highlighted Milwaukee as a superior basketball opportunity, eventually leading to his move to the Bucks.
Both Lillard’s Bucks and the Heat find themselves in precarious positions in the ongoing NBA playoffs, trailing 1-3 in their respective series.
Miami started well against the Boston Celtics but faltered in Games 3 and 4, succumbing to Derrick White’s standout performance in Game 4, where he notched a career-high 38 points.
Meanwhile, the Bucks have faced their own challenges against the Indiana Pacers, missing Antetokounmpo and witnessing Lillard’s absence in Game 4 after featuring in the initial matches.
For Lillard, his debut season with the Bucks has been tumultuous, highlighting the uncertainties and challenges of NBA playoffs.
