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The start of NBA training camps is only a few weeks away, with every team in the league preparing for the upcoming 2023-24 campaign.
Although the majority of the teams around the league have set rosters and know what they’ll look like to begin next season, the Portland Trail Blazers still have some work to do, as superstar guard Damian Lillard still wants to be traded.
Most believe that the Blazers and the Miami Heat will eventually see eye-to-eye on a blockbuster trade to send Lillard to South Beach to join forces with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, even if it takes another team or two to make things work.
However, there’s another scenario where a surprise team comes out of nowhere and proposes a deal that the Blazers can’t refuse.
Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated said on the The Cross Over Podcast that believes the Oklahoma City Thunder could be a team that swoops in and acquires Lillard if he’s still on the Blazers roster heading toward the NBA trade deadline via Dru.
“Trust me. I wrote this last week. I believe I’m going to call this an educated opinion. That if Dame is still on that Blazers roster in January. And if OKC is overachieving. If they’re playing really well…Don’t be surprised if they go out & make a run at Lillard” @SIChrisMannix pic.twitter.com/WSn4Mem7wI
— Dru (@dru_star) September 17, 2023
As Mannix points out, the Thunder have a lot of trade assets and could potentially give the Blazers the best trade package for Lillard.
Plus, Lillard would get his wish to play for a team that could make some noise, as Oklahoma City would arguably be one of the best teams in the Western Conference if they were able to acquire Lillard in a deal.
It’ll be interesting to see how things pan out for Lillard and the Blazers in the coming weeks and whether the superstar will have to start the season in an awkward position in Portland.
The post Reporter Says 1 Young Team Could Make A Surprising Run For Damian Lillard appeared first on The Cold Wire.
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