NBA Insider Reveals Why Miami Heat Weren’t Interested in Signing Damian Lillard
NBA insider Sam Amico of Hoops Wire revealed why the Miami Heat weren’t interested in signing Damian Lillard, who is returning to the Portland Trail Blazers on a three-year, $42 million deal.
Amico reports that the Heat didn’t want to pay Lillard to rehab his torn left Achilles tendon. Lillard is expected to miss all of next season.
“Lillard is expected to miss all of next season rehabbing his torn left Achilles tendon,” Amico wrote. “The Miami Heat didn’t want to pay Lillard to rehab and not play, the league source said.”
When Lillard requested a trade from the Trail Blazers in 2023, the Heat were his No. 1 preferred landing spot. However, Portland and Miami couldn’t agree to a deal and Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Lillard played two seasons with the Bucks. He tore his left Achilles tendon in the 2025 playoffs and was waived and stretched by Milwaukee this offseason, becoming an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career. The NBA legend signed with the Trail Blazers because he gets to be around his kids while he recovers from his injury.
A future Hall of Famer, Lillard will make $70 million next season from the Bucks and Trail Blazers. The Oakland native played in 58 games for Milwaukee last season. He averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists.
The Heat acquired Norman Powell from the Los Angeles Clippers this offseason after failing to trade for Kevin Durant, who was traded by the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets. The Cleveland Cavaliers swept Miami in the first round of the 2025 playoffs.
Jimmy Butler requested a trade from the Heat last season and was traded to the Golden State Warriors. Miami hasn’t won a championship since 2013, something President Pat Riley isn’t happy about.
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