The Utah Jazz contacted the Portland Trail Blazers about franchise icon Damian Lillard in the wake of his trade request, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Utah did not make an offer for Lillard but called to check in on the 32-year-old, Wojnarowski adds.
Lillard’s preferred destination is the Miami Heat, but the Trail Blazers reportedly plan to canvass the trade market for the best available offer. Other suitors include the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers.
The Jazz can offer multiple first-round picks, including the majority of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ and Minnesota Timberwolves’ selections for the rest of the decade, which the Jazz acquired from the Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert trades, respectively. The franchise can also trade the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2027 first-rounder.
Utah was competitive for a good portion of the 2022-23 season but ended the campaign with a 37-45 record, finishing 12th in the Western Conference. The Jazz picked UCF forward Taylor Hendricks with the ninth pick in June’s draft.
Lillard signed a two-year, $121-million contract extension last offseason with a $63.2-million player option in 2026-27, according to Spotrac.
The Heat would likely need to expand a potential Lillard trade to a third team as the Blazers reportedly aren’t interested in acquiring Tyler Herro and the four years and $120-million left on his deal. Miami has two first-round picks in 2028 and 2030 available to trade. The club can also move five years of pick swaps and young talent like Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jacquez.
Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 4.8 rebounds last season for the Trail Blazers. He ranks first in franchise history in points and 3-pointers.
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