Damian Lillard’s Heat trade wish may not be simple with Trail Blazers…

Don’t expect Pat Riley to pull off another heist to land a superstar in Miami.

Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard requested a trade out of Portland early on Saturday , with the Miami Heat as his preferred destination.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported during a Sunday appearance on SportsCenter that the Trail Blazers do not plan to simply grant Lillard’s wish and send him to the reigning Eastern Conference champions.

“The Blazers front office, their organization, they made it clear to teams who called yesterday about Damian Lillard that they are open for business everywhere in the league on him,” Wojnarowski said.

The seven-time All-NBA guard would net a massive haul in a trade for the rebuilding Trail Blazers.

But Lillard’s preferred destination of Miami wouldn’t exactly net that same haul, and the only way he really ends up there is as a thank you from the team for his 11 seasons in Portland.

“He does not have a no-trade clause in the way that Bradley Beal did,” Wojnarowski noted. “He does not get to control where he goes next.”

Any trade would have to be centered around Heat guard Tyler Herro, who was injured during Miami’s recent run to the NBA Finals.

Miami is also unable to offer salary cap relief unless they get a third team involved, as they feature no major expiring contracts.

And the draft pick compensation Miami could offer is two first-round picks in 2028 and 2030, with a few pick swaps involved as well.

It would seem a bidding war is ongoing behind the scenes in NBA circles as teams aim for Lillard’s presence on their team.

“I think this will not be a quick process, and Miami does not have any advantage in trying to get a trade for Damian Lillard,” Wojnarowski said.

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