Could Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal take their talents to South Beach in the near future?
That’s what Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald suggested Thursday in the wake of the Heat’s NBA Finals loss to the Nuggets in Game 5 on Monday night, noting “there is a path to the Heat acquiring” both Lillard and Beal from the Trail Blazers and Wizards, respectively — with some caveats, of course.
“It would require the cooperation of the Trail Blazers and the Wizards, as well as the two stars pushing their way to Miami,” Jackson wrote.
“Somehow get word to both Lillard (or his agent Aaron Goodwin) and Beal (or his agent Mark Bartelstein) that the Heat is trying to pull off both Lillard and Beal trades.”
Lillard, 32, has spoken openly about Miami being an intriguing destination, and if he and Beal, 29, demand trades to the southern region of the Sunshine State, it could potentially have significant ramifications across the league.
That said, it’s unclear what kind of trade package a team would look for if it chose to negotiate with Miami.
Miami is certainly in the market for offensive assistance.
The team was one of the worst, offensively, to reach the Finals in nearly two decades.
Miami ranked 30th in points per game this season with an average of 109.5 and 27th in rebounds per game with 40.6.
Adding both Lillard and Beal would instantly provide the Heat with two dynamic, three-level scorers to alleviate any pressure on star Miami forwards Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
Miami posted an abysmal 1-6 record this postseason when scoring less than 100 points in a contest.
On the flip side, Lillard averaged a career-high 32.7 points per game and 7.3 assists this season and earned an All-NBA 3rd team selection.
As for Beal, the Wizards guard recorded an impressive 23.2 points and 5.4 assists a night.
Beal has been at the center of recent trade rumors, with The Athletic reporting Wednesday he and the team “intend to work together” on a trade to a contender if Washington moves forward with a rebuild.
Beal has also been linked to the Bucks and Kings amid recent buzz.
Elsewhere, it’s been reported Portland is shopping the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft, along with rising guard Anfernee Simons, to build a contender around star guard Lillard.
With the 2023 NBA Draft set for next Thursday, it remains to be seen if any movement will be made between now and then.
