Reports suggest that Damian Lillard would strongly oppose being traded to the Toronto Raptors this offseason, potentially making it a difficult move, according to Ethan Skolnick from Five on the Floor.

 

Skolnick shared on a recent podcast that a reporter closely connected to Lillard’s agent had mentioned that Lillard would have reservations about playing in Toronto if a trade were to happen.

The Miami Heat have been actively pursuing Lillard, a seven-time All-Star, in the offseason, hoping to secure his services from the Portland Trail Blazers. However, as of now, the two teams have not reached an agreement on a trade.

 

It has been widely reported that Lillard would request a trade to the Miami Heat if he were to be moved anywhere other than Miami this offseason. This potential stance by Lillard might discourage other teams from pursuing the seven-time All-NBA selection, and it seems that Toronto is one of those teams that Lillard is not keen on playing for.

 

In a recent report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, trade discussions involving Lillard have taken place with other teams, excluding the Heat. However, he also mentioned that it only takes one decisive moment, one call, to potentially change the course of the situation.

Lillard remains one of the premier guards in the NBA, and his addition to the Heat would represent a significant upgrade at the point guard position. In the previous season, he averaged 32.2 points and 7.3 assists per game, shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from beyond the arc.

 

The Heat have a need for guard depth after Gabe Vincent departed for the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency. Although the team still has Kyle Lowry, who is in the final season of his contract, Lowry has had to deal with injuries during his tenure with the Heat. Adding a player of Lillard’s caliber would significantly boost Miami’s offensive capabilities.

 

The Raptors, on the other hand, are also in search of guard reinforcements after Fred VanVleet signed with the Houston Rockets in free agency. However, if Lillard is reluctant to join Toronto, it could complicate any potential deal for the organization.

Lillard’s resistance to playing for other teams could work to the Heat’s advantage, potentially weakening the Blazers’ bargaining position in trade negotiations.