Without Damian Lillard in the mix, the Heat's options are limited for built-now, aging roster
Without Damian Lillard in the mix, the Heat's options are limited for built-now, aging roster If we learned anything this NBA offseason, it is that nobody wants to extend Pat Riley's winning time. The Miami Heat executive spent the summer believing Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard would fall into his lap, joining Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo on a team that could deliver him a 10th championship ring. Instead, the rival Milwaukee Bucks stole Lillard from under his nose, pairing the seven-time All-NBA selection with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and disrupting Riley's best-laid plans. Lillard requested a trade as free agency opened. His agent, Aaron Goodwin, publicly acknowledged, "He wants to play in Miami. Period," warning other suitors, "It’s not fair to a team to allow them to engage in a negotiation that could be futile in the end," even though Lillard's $176 million contract runs through 2027. The NBA went so far as to