The Miami Heat wanted Damian Lillard and tried to acquire the All-NBA guard but failed.
The Portland Trailblazers sent him to the Milwaukee Bucks as a part of a three-team trade with the Phoenix Suns. Jrue Holiday, one of the Bucks’ core pieces, had been included in the deal.
The Trailblazers quickly traded Holiday to the Boston Celtics for more compensation, so the 33-year-old could continue chasing a NBA Championship instead of participating in a rebuild.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Heat tried to acquire Holiday but failed.
“The Miami Heat submitted a significant bid for Jrue Holiday, but Portland ultimately accepted an offer from the Boston Celtics.”
The Miami Heat submitted a significant bid for Jrue Holiday, but Portland ultimately accepted an offer from the Boston Celtics, per Brian Windhorst pic.twitter.com/b7row8RPJE
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 2, 2023
The Heat struck out this offseason, failing to land Lillard, who desperately wanted a trade there. Then failed to land Holiday when he became available. That’s a tough pill to swallow.
However, the reigning Eastern Conference championship still have an elite head coach in Erik Spoelstra, All-Star players in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, and plenty of solid players around them.
