The Miami Heat have made it clear who their untouchables are in a potential Damian Lillard trade with Portland.
Ever since Damian Lillard expressed his intent to go to the Miami Heat, the trade package speculation has been endless. Who would the Heat give up? Could a third team get involved? Would Portland honor Lillard's request in the first place?
This past week, the Trail Blazers released their requirements for a future Lillard trade, which would reportedly include four first-round picks and two quality players.
One "quality player" from the Heat that may intrigue Portland is center Bam Adebayo, but Miami shut down that possibility very quickly.
In an ESPN insider story, Zach Lowe described how the Heat responded to a potential package involving Adebayo:
"The Brooklyn Nets never showed interest in swapping Mikal Bridges for that Simons/No. 3 package, sources said; it's unclear if the teams discussed it. The Miami Heat chuckled at Portland potentially asking about Bam Adebayo."
Damian Lillard trade: Miami Heat are not dealing Bam Adebayo to Blazers
To be clear, the Trail Blazers may never have formally asked about getting Adebayo. Sources may have hinted to the Heat at the potential idea of trading Adebayo — something along the lines of, "Purely spit-balling here, but what would a deal that includes Bam look like?"
To that hypothetical question, the Heat chuckled.
Adebayo is off-limits. So is Jimmy Butler, which is no surprise.
The movable pieces on the Heat, per rampant rumors, are Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson, among a few others. However, if the Trail Blazers don't like those options, they have the liberty to pursue a trade with someone else to perhaps get a better return.
Miami isn't going to just lie down and let Portland pillage its roster. Portland doesn't even have to negotiate with Miami in the first place. This Damian Lillard trade situation is bound to get uglier.
