Damian Lillard requests trade from Trail Blazers with Heat, Nets as 'preferred destinations' for seven-time All-Star: reports

Damian Lillard requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers Saturday morning, according to multiple reports, including Chris Haynes of TNT and Bleacher Report.

The Nets and Miami Heat are among Lillard's "leading suitors," according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. Haynes added that "Miami and Brooklyn are preferred destinations."

Charania subsequently reported that the Blazers were "informed that Damian Lillard wants a trade specifically to the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat." Marc J. Spears of ESPN's Andscape also reported that "Lillard's preference is to be traded to the Miami Heat."

In an interview with Showtime's The Last Stand that aired June 6, Lillard was asked about a hypothetical trade to the Boston Celtics, Heat, Knicks or Nets.

"Miami, obviously," Lillard said. "Miami is the obvious one, and Bam (Adebayo) is my dog. I think Miami is an obvious one. Brooklyn is another obvious one because Mikal Bridges is my dog, too. And both have capable rosters."

Lillard met with Portland general manager Joe Cronin this past Monday and discussed the future of the franchise.

"We have been clear that we want Dame here but he notified us today he wants out and he'd prefer to play someplace else," Cronin said Saturday afternoon in a statement. "What has not changed for us is that we're committed to winning, and we are going to do what's best for the team in pursuit of that goal."

The Blazers are "expected to work to accommodate" Lillard on a trade, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne.

The Heat, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers are "three teams that will have interest in exploring trades for Lillard," according to Wojnarowski, who added, "The Blazers are expected to value deals that would bring them back young players and draft assets."

Shelburne added that Miami "is Lillard’s preference here. But he also has a deep respect for the San Antonio Spurs organization."

"Lillard had contemplated asking for a trade when he met with the Blazers on Monday but wanted to give them every opportunity to improve the team as free agency opened so he remained as quiet and supportive as he could this week," Shelburne wrote Saturday on Twitter. "Last night he made the decision to ask for a trade."

A seven-time All-Star, Lillard turns 33 two Saturdays from now -- July 15 -- but enters the 2023-24 campaign off a career-high 32.2 points per game during the 2022-23 season. Lillard shot 46.3 percent from the field, including a 37.1 percent clip on three-pointers, while averaging 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists in 58 games.