When the Portland Trail Blazers first spoke with the Miami Heat on a potential Damian Lillard trade, they asked for either Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo back in return.
The Blazers and Heat had multiple conversations in July, but sources say the two sides never engaged in substantive negotiations. The Heat believed the Blazers had little interest in engaging on a trade with them.
Sources say the Heat were prepared in July and August to offer up to three first round picks with Tyler Herro going to a third team plus multiple second rounders, expiring contracts and Nikola Jovic.
Lillard wanted the Blazers to try to find a deal with the Heat, but those wishes went unfulfilled in his mind.
The Blazers eventually traded Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks with Jrue Holiday as the centerpiece return, which they will now attempt to trade elsewhere.