Damian Lillard should have a big trading market if the Portland Trail Blazers put it on the block.

After nine years in the Pacific Northwest, All-NBA Point guard Damian Lillard possibly his last game for that Portland Trailblazer.

Lillard was six times in the league and six times All-Star of the Western Conference. Although the Trail Blazers in the NBA playoffs Portland is regularly eliminated in the first round far too many times for a team built around a player of his caliber. Lillard has just turned 31 and could play the second half of his career elsewhere if he requests a trade.

Here are the five teams most likely to swap for Lillard this off-season. Which teams are useful?

Damian Lillard: 5 most likely trading targets for him in the ranking

5

Toronto Raptors

east Atlantic

Toronto Raptors has the trading fortune, but will he want to play in Canada?

The Toronto Raptors are only two years away from winning an NBA championship. You have the organizational stability that a star would want to work with. Toronto has several fascinating trading assets, including Wing Pascal Siakam and number 4 overall pick in 2021. You could also send Kyle Lowry to the Trail Blazers in a sign-and-trade. However, Lillard would have to move to Canada.

4th

intense heat

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The Miami Heat have a fantastic culture, but their assets aren’t the best

A new intense heat The big three of Lillard, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo might be enough to pass the Eastern Conference, or at least the Southeast Division. Miami has a fantastic culture that Lillard could jump into. Erik Spoelstra is a great coach and Pat Riley can build a winner. However, a deal with Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, and a series of picks doesn’t really move the needle.

3rd

Golden State Warriors

west Pacific Golden State Warriors

Going home to the Golden State Warriors would be fun, but probably chunky

Lillard may be from Oakland, California, but he may get to the being Golden State Warriors is a bit clunkier than you might think. A backcourt tandem of Lillard and Steph Curry would be dynamite offensively but very limited in defense. Golden State can forego Andrew Wiggins, James Wiseman, and both first-round picks to get it this year. This could work.

2

New York Knicks

east Atlantic New York Knicks

His brand would explode as the Star Point Guard of the New York Knicks

The best landing spot for Lillard has to be that New York Knicks. You need a star, especially with point guard. Derrick Rose is good at spurts, but Lillard is an All-NBA performer. The pairing of Lillard with Julius Randle makes the Knicks incredibly convincing. However, the Knicks would have given up RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, one more young player, and a handful of future picks to potentially pull this off.

1

Philadelphia 76ers

east Atlantic Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers have the best trading capital in Ben Simmons that can be surrendered

From a purely simplistic point of view, that is Philadelphia 76ers make the most sense. Although it will be a bit more complicated for Ben Simmons than Lillard, that would be the origin of the trade. The pick-and-roll partnership with Lillard and Joel Embiid makes Philadelphia a serious title contender. Simmons and CJ McCollum in the backcourt of Portland become more even.

Overall, all five of these teams will have their reasons for potentially acting for Lillard. Miami and Toronto could get involved, but they feel like dark horses. Golden State would be so much fun, but the Warriors are playing in the same Western Conference as Portland and the pieces might not fit. As for New York or Philadelphia, there could be an Atlantic Division arms race at Lillard.

Which teams make the most sense to trade for Lillard on a big deal with Portland this summer?