The Damian Lillard saga continues. Toronto Raptors fans and Miami Heat fans have been in an emotional rollercoaster over the past week.
There has been a lot of speculation that Toronto is in the driver’s seat to acquire Lillard.
Marc Spears noted that the Raptors are the frontrunners. Also, Sportsnet’s Michael Grange confirmed that the Raptors are in the mix.
Michael Grange recently provided a new update on the Damian Lillard sweepstakes, one that favors Miami’s chances of acquiring the superstar:
FWIW – growing consensus from around league that Miami will indeed be destination for Dame. We’ll see.
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) September 27, 2023
Grange has good intel on the Raptors so for him to say this is significant. Damian Lillard’s preferred destination is Miami, but the Heat and Portland Trail Blazers don’t seem close to a deal.
Mars Spears did suggest that a trade could happen for Lillard before Oct. 2, which is when most teams have media day.
Masai Ujiri and the Raptors can still get a deal done for Lillard if the price is right. However according to Sean Highkin, Masai Ujiri has a track record of going back and forth on trade offers:
“Somebody I know who’s dealt with Toronto’s front office that I talk to this week called Masai ‘the guy in your fantasy league who offers five trades a week and cancels at the last minute before you can decide whether to accept them or not.’”
– @highkin on Masai Ujiri
(Via… pic.twitter.com/2NVfUCYl06
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 27, 2023
Will Toronto make a big trade or will this all turn out to be smoke and mirrors with the Heat acquiring the seven-time All-Star?
Stephen A. Smith weighs in on Lillard to Raptors
The Raptors have been in the American media spotlight this week since they’re in the mists of the Lillard sweepstakes.
First Take’s Stephen A. Smith recently reacted to the possibility of Lillard being traded to the Raptors.
Stephen A. Smith was not a fan of the idea calling it a ‘waste of time.‘
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