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For months, negotiations over Damian Lillard between the Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat have remained at a standstill.
Lately, other teams have reportedly jumped into the mix, including the Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, and others.
Josh Lewenberg of TSN says that this might be the result of the Blazers attempting to regain leverage they lost with the Heat.
Lewenberg reported, via NBACentral:
“With the start of training camp fast approaching, this sudden uptick of teams reportedly registering interest could simply be the result of Portland feeling the heat – no pun intended – and trying to take some of that leverage back, as one source suggested.”
League insiders believe the Trail Blazers are working to regain leverage against the Miami Heat due to the sudden surge in teams expressing interest in Damian Lillard, per @JLew1050
“As multiple sources confirmed to TSN, the Raptors’ interest in Portland’s all-star guard is… pic.twitter.com/bWJLRjWu2m
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 26, 2023
Since the moment Lillard decided he wanted to leave the Blazers, he put that team in a very tough spot.
That is because he had one destination in mind: the Miami Heat and only the Miami Heat.
That essentially took away all of Portland’s leverage, which they haven’t been able to gain back in the months since.
Now that other teams are poking around and thinking about making a run at Lillard, the Blazers have a bit of leverage again.
They can force Miami’s hand.
If the Heat really do want Lillard, they will have to offer more than they have before, or else the Blazers will simply make a deal with another team.
Of course, the Heat might not play along because they have their own boundaries and demands.
According to some people, the Blazers have always had the upper hand in all negotiations about Lillard.
But they now also have multiple choices after months of only being able to deal with the Heat.
Will this result in Miami trying even harder to get Lillard?
The post NBA Insiders Discuss Trail Blazers’ Newfound Leverage With Damian Lillard appeared first on The Cold Wire.
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