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NBA insider confirms that Knicks aren’t at top of Damian Lillard’s trade list

By Jordanna Clark

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 14: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers in action during the second quarter against the New York Knicks at Moda Center on March 14, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. The New York Knicks won 123-107. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 14: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers in action during the second quarter against the New York Knicks at Moda Center on March 14, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. The New York Knicks won 123-107. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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Is Damian Lillard going to be traded this offseason, or will he remain in Portland for at least the first half of yet another season? That’s the question that many NBA fans are waiting to learn the answer to, but based on what’s been said, don’t expect the All-Star guard to end up on the New York Knicks.

As a guest on The Last Stand podcast with Brian Custer, Lillard said that in a hypothetical trade, he’d like to wind up with either the Heat or the Nets. He shouted out Bam Adebayo and Mikal Bridges but forgot about his former teammate Josh Hart, who immediately went to Twitter to call out Dame. As much as Hart may want to reunite with Lillard on the Knicks, it doesn’t seem like a scenario that’s going to play out.

For starters, New York already has its point guard of the future in Jalen Brunson and a solid backup in Immanuel Quickley, a Sixth Man of the Year finalist. The Knicks have been sitting back and waiting for the right star to trade for, and Dame doesn’t exactly fit that bill.

Although the 32-year-old has remained fiercely loyal to Portland, the Trail Blazers’ moves this summer (or the lack thereof) could send Dame out the door. NBA insider Chris Haynes, who has a relationship with Dame, confirmed on Thursday that if Lillard were to be traded, Miami and Brooklyn would be the two teams at the top of his list.

New York Knicks are not at the top of Damian Lillard’s trade wishlist

Chris Haynes said that if the Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard agreed that a trade would be in the best interest of both sides, Portland would assist the guard with getting him to one of his top Eastern Conference destinations. That’s the least that the Trail Blazers could do after all that Dame has given to the organization.

Between the Heat and Nets, it seems likelier that Lillard would be traded to Miami. The Heat somehow made it to the NBA Finals as the second No. 8 seed to do so in league history. Gabe Vincent has been an important part of Miami’s run, but if the Heat had the chance to add Dame to their roster, that’d be a no-brainer.

As much as Knicks fans may despise Miami already, the Heat getting Lillard over the Nets would be the preferred outcome. However, at the same time, Brooklyn has proven that it isn’t capable of handling three star players, much less one.

After years of speculation about Damian Lillard being traded, it could finally happen this offseason.

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