The Portland Trail Blazers are looking forward to moving on from Damian Lillard, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to be traded at a discount.
The Miami Heat are exhaustively looking to get their hands on the superstar point guard but to no avail.
Even so, the feeling around the league is that a trade is imminent, and it’s just a matter of time before he takes his talents to South Beach.
Should that be the case, then Paul Pierce actually believes that move would hurt Miami, citing that the Heat wouldn’t be able to get past the first round with Lillard on the team.
Paul Pierce on Damian Lillard potentially joining the Heat: "They won't make it out of the first round."
Me and Tracy McGrady: 👀
Let's just say a lively discussion ensued ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/oM7gESwZsD— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) July 13, 2023
When asked about that rather bold take, the retired small forward explained that the Heat would have to give up most of their depth to get Lillard, adding that they’ve already lost Max Strus and Gabe Vincent.
Notably, Pierce also claimed that the Heat have been lucky to make it that far in the playoffs, adding that their role players played much better than expected.
Needless to say, Pierce has never had any kind of love for the Miami Heat, as he even starred in some epic battles with them during their Big Three era.
So, maybe we should take these comments with a grain of salt.
Also, Pierce has become kind of infamous for his often-controversial takes, most of which rarely come true.
The Heat will always find suitable role players, and adding an elite player to a team that has made it to the NBA Finals twice in the past four years is a scary thought for the rest of the league.
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