During the summer of 2023, the Portland Trail Blazers traded superstar Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks despite his desired destination being the Miami Heat.
It will be debated for some time what package could have come Portland’s way had general manager Joe Cronin engaged with Heat president Pat Riley.
But what’s known for sure is that Miami guard Tyler Herro would have been at the center of any deal.
Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams III were acquired from Boston after the Blazers sent Holiday further east. The Blazers sent Grayson Allen, acquired from the Bucks, and center Jusuf Nurkic, forward Nassir Little and guard Keon Johnson to Phoenix for center Deandre Ayton and 2023 second-round pick Toumani Camara.
Brogdon was packaged with two first-round picks and sent to Washington for Deni Avdija on draft night 2024. Camara has become a gem defensive player. Injuries caused Williams to miss 76 games last season and 25 this season so far.
Herro has elevated his play this season to 23.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists while shooting 46.7% from the field and 40.1% from beyond the arc. His scoring, shooting percentages, assists, and rebounds are all career highs.
That said, the Blazers’ commitment to their guard trio was sound. Simons and Sharpe could form a formidable backcourt. And Sharpe could surpass Herro as an all-around player.
They began their six-game trip with an overtime loss at Sacramento and won at Golden State and Utah. The Heat close their trip at the LA Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers following playing Portland.
The Heat, seventh in the Eastern Conference, shouldn’t take the Blazers lightly but this is a game Miami should win.
