The front office of the Miami Heat is currently learning that communication is key.
Chris Haynes spoke about the drama between the Heat and Portland Trail Blazers regarding a potential Damian Lillard trade on the “thisleague UNCUT” podcast.
According to Haynes, Miami has become frustrated by the lack of definitive demands from Portland.
Haynes said:
“The Miami Heat, they’re a bit frustrated with how things are moving along slowly. Portland’s telling them ‘Bring us your best offer.’ Miami would like to know what Portland wants and Miami is not getting that answer.”
He added that the Heat “feel like things could be moving a little bit quicker if Portland was saying exactly what it is they want.”
“Miami’s frustrated w/ how things are moving slowly. Portland’s telling them bring us your best offer. MIA would like to know what Portland wants & MIA isn’t getting that answer. Heat feel like things could be moving quicker if Portland said exactly what they want” @ChrisBHaynes pic.twitter.com/bIRs7ubDNR
— Dru (@dru_star) July 21, 2023
Haynes said that the Heat are well aware a third team might need to be involved in this trade.
They know that they don’t hold all the assets that the Trail Blazers want.
Therefore, they may have to bring in a third team in order to move around players and draft picks.
But they aren’t able to reach out to other teams because Portland isn’t being clear about what’s acceptable to them.
How many first-round draft picks do they desire?
Do they want an A-list player in the deal too?
All of these questions remain unanswered and the Heat aren’t sure how to proceed.
Why is Portland acting this way?
There are plenty of reasons but one of them may be because they know they have the advantage in these negotiations.
They can sit on Lillard as long as they want, even if he is unhappy and chooses not to play next season.
They said they won’t commit to any deal unless they are 100% satisfied with it.
They obviously meant that.
Are the Blazers keeping their true demands hidden from Miami because they don’t know what they really want?
Or are they just remaining secretive because they are in no hurry to trade away their biggest star?
NEXT: Heat Could Land Veteran Big Man In Addition To Damian Lillard
