Tyler Herro can be fairly the comfort prize — however at what price?
It seems Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard, who has formally requested a commerce from Portland after a number of failed playoff runs, solely desires to play for the Miami Heat.
The Nets had been linked to Lillard given the celebrity guard’s relationship with franchise cornerstone Mikal Bridges, however 32-point-per-game scorer desires to go to a prepared made championship contender.
The Heat simply misplaced to the Denver Nuggets within the NBA Finals, whereas the Nets had been swept out of the primary spherical by the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Heat, nevertheless, don’t have enticing sufficient belongings alone for a Lillard commerce, and Lillard doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, which means the Trail Blazers can deal him to any group that has belongings Portland wishes.
Miami’s greatest commerce package deal is constructed round former Sixth Man of the Year Herro, their solely two tradeable draft picks in 2028 and 2030, veteran level guard Kyle Lowry and his $21M wage, sharpshooter Duncan Robinson, and younger gamers Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jacquez Jr.
The reporting surrounding the Lillard deal suggests the Trail Blazers aren’t inquisitive about a variation of that haul.
Which brings us to the Nets, who’re armed with a minimum of eight first-round draft picks they will deal in 2025, 2027 and 2029. Herro is a greater participant than the Nets have to supply in a deal, however the Nets may help facilitate a deal as a 3rd group to offer Miami with the draft capital wanted to coax Portland right into a commerce.
But at what price? The Nets aren’t simply going to assist Miami assemble a superteam in alternate by surrendering draft belongings for Herro, who has by no means made an All-Star look however has averaged 20 factors per recreation in every of the previous two seasons.
While the Nets are available in the market for a fringe scorer and playmaker to assist alleviate the offensive load from Bridges’ shoulders, they might a lot quite purchase a participant of Lillard’s caliber. As a consequence, the Nets wish to be compensated for serving to Miami facilitate a deal.
Brooklyn may insist the Heat embrace 20-year-old huge man Nikola Jovic in any deal — however the Trail Blazers may need the English-born ahead as a part of the haul they get for Lillard. Heat rookie Jaime Jacquez Jr., the 18th general choose on this yr’s NBA Draft, can be included in a Lillard deal. Both Jovic and Jacquez Jr. performed effectively within the California Classic between the Heat and Los Angeles Lakers in Sacramento on Monday.
What’s obtainable to Brooklyn largely is dependent upon what gamers the Trail Blazers need along with draft picks to maneuver Lillard to Miami.
What’s clear, nevertheless, is Brooklyn is uniquely positioned to profit even when they lose out on the Lillard sweepstakes. They have re-signed Cam Johnson, agreed in precept to commerce each Joe Harris to the Detroit Pistons and Patty Mills to the Houston Rockets in salary-dumping strikes, and have additionally signed reserve guards Dennis Smith Jr. and Lonnie Walker IV to one-year offers.
The Nets don’t have any cap area to signal free brokers outright however can have their mid-level exception obtainable after shifting off of Harris’ and Mills’ mixed $26M in wage. Herro would undoubtedly be a roster improve if the Nets can purchase him as a part of the Lillard deal, however simply how a lot is Brooklyn’s entrance workplace keen to surrender to assist Miami purchase the lacking piece to its championship goals?
Just just like the Trail Blazers can ask for the world, so can the Nets. Not the worst place to be, even when you’re lacking out on the darling of the deal.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com