TRADE UPDATE: Miami Heat Finally Agree Terms to Sign 2-Times MVP with NBA Rival Team in Mid-Season Trade…
The Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks have faced off in intense playoff matchups in the past. As the 2024-2025 NBA season approaches, both teams are entering with championship ambitions.
It’s expected that both Miami and Milwaukee will be active in the market as the NBA trade deadline for the 2024-2025 season nears. During the offseason, there were trade rumors surrounding players from both teams.
Wes Goldberg of AllucanHeat.com speculates that the Miami Heat might attempt to trade for Milwaukee Bucks’ point guard Damian Lillard during the season. Prior to the season, Goldberg outlined three possible trade candidates for Miami if certain teams struggle. One of those players is Lillard.
Despite Milwaukee’s focus on building a championship-caliber team around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, the season could be a defining one for the franchise. Goldberg commented on the possibility of Lillard becoming available:
“The Bucks are an aging team. Depending on who you ask, their championship window is either closing or already closed. Lillard is 34, Khris Middleton is 33 but dealing with injuries, and Giannis will turn 30 in December.
While I still believe in the Bucks, Giannis and Lillard should improve in their second season together, and Middleton is bound to have a healthy stretch eventually. They have the star talent, coaching continuity, and experience to secure a top-four finish in the East.
But if things fall apart, and by February it’s clear the experiment isn’t working, what’s stopping the Heat from calling about Lillard?
By then, Lillard would have two-and-a-half years left on his contract, and Milwaukee might look to get younger and cheaper around Giannis. Perhaps the Heat could offer Wisconsin native Tyler Herro and other valuable assets?
Lillard could join Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in Miami. Despite their injury troubles, the Heat feel more stable than the Bucks, and Lillard might be the final piece they need for a championship push.”
The viability of such a trade will depend on where both teams stand in the league by the 2024-2025 trade deadline. It may seem unlikely that Milwaukee would trade Lillard to a conference rival.
Lillard’s Massive Contract Makes Trade Difficult
For the 2024-2025 season, Damian Lillard’s salary cap hit is $48.8 million, according to Spotrac. His salary will exceed $54 million in 2025-2026, with a player option worth over $58 million for the 2026-2027 season.
Given his age and contract, Lillard may not be a realistic target for Miami, though the idea is intriguing. However, the Bucks are likely to remain a stronger team than the Heat this season.
