Report: Utah Jazz interested in Damian Lillard

Can the Jazz find a way to bring Damian Lillard to Utah?

• By
  
  James Hansen
  

• On that day July 1, 2023 at 11:51 pm

According to Sam Amick, there are other teams interested in a potential trade for Damian Lillard, and one of those teams is the Utah Jazz.

From Sam Amick:

The list of teams interested in Lillard is predictably long, and includes Philadelphia, the Clippers and Utah. As Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report said, a third team would be necessary in a deal with the Heat. Miami could send guard Tyler Hero to Portland in the Lillard deal, but he doesn’t make much sense on a Blazers roster loaded with guards and may have to be traded again to another team.

Amick makes it clear Damian Lillard’s first choice is to join Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in Miami. A lot will come down to how well the Blazers want to do with Lillard and making sure what’s best for the franchise. It’s tough to walk considering all the things that go into a potential trade for Miami. Lillard’s contract alone makes it difficult because of the size, and if the Blazers lean toward what’s best for their franchise, it could mean moving with another team.

Adrian Wojnarowski provided more insight into Joe Cronin and what the Blazers are looking for in a trade.

A star-level set can be interpreted in a number of ways. Does that mean they want a star back in a trade? Do they want star-level returns like Brooklyn and Utah for Gobert and Durant? We’ll find out soon enough, but if it’s the latter, the Jazz certainly have a collection of assets that could make a move.

The Jazz have made statements that seem to coincide with what’s happening in Portland.

Based on Amick’s report, Janic and Ainge are definitely in talks, and we’ll see what those talks entail. If the Blazers get to the point where they want a load of draft picks and the Jazz feel the trade is worth it, it’s very plausible they could make a trade and bring the former Weber State Wildcat back to Utah.

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