Damian Lillard hasn't left a ton of room for speculation about his trade request.
On July 1, the All-NBA guard told the Trail Blazers that he wanted to be traded. Portland general manager Joe Cronin then publicly confirmed Lillard had made the request.
"We have been clear that we want Dame here but he notified us today he wants out and he'd prefer to play someplace else," Cronin said in a statement. "What has not changed for us is that we're committed to winning, and we are going to do what's best for the team in pursuit of that goal."
Lillard also hasn't been cryptic in regards to his preferred destination. Multiple reports have indicated that he wants to land in Miami and help Heat stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in their pursuit of a championship.
Unlike Bradley Beal, though, Lillard doesn't possess a no-trade clause in his contract that will allow him to control the process. Still, Lillard and his agent, Aaron Goodwin, have been doing everything in their power to force the Trail Blazers' hand.
MORE: Lillard says he hasn't misled fans amid trade request
How Damian Lillard, agent are trying to eliminate Trail Blazers' leverage in trade talks
Lillard may want to join the Heat, but the Trail Blazers are "not impressed" with Miami's offer, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, who reported that Portland will take its time and search for better packages elsewhere. The Trail Blazers want draft picks and talented young players as they begin the post-Lillard era.
While there are certainly other suitors interested in discussing a Lillard deal, Goodwin has been "telling organizations outside of Miami that trading for Lillard is trading for an unhappy player," per Wojnarowski. The plan? "Depress offers and clear a path to a predetermined destination," Wojnarowski adds.
Goodwin confirmed the report of his messaging to teams, telling the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson that "I do what I should for my client."
"Some teams I did call. Other teams have called me," Goodwin said. "It's a respectful relationship with most teams. Truthfully, he wants to play in Miami. Period."
Goodwin also told ESPN's Marc J. Spears that he is "hopeful" the Trail Blazers and Heat will be able to negotiate a trade as team executives travel to Las Vegas for Summer League games.
Damian Lillard contract details
Lillard signed a two-year, $122 million extension with the Trail Blazers last summer. That extension runs through the 2026-27 season and includes a player option.
| Season | Salary |
| 2023-24 | $45.6 million |
| 2024-25 | $48.8 million |
| 2025-26 | $58.5 million |
| 2026-27 | $63.2 million (PO) |
Aaron Goodwin NBA client list
Goodwin represents four current NBA players, according to RealGM's client database:
- DeMar DeRozan, Bulls
- Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers
- Gary Payton II, Warriors
- Matisse Thybulle, Trail Blazers
Goodwin was LeBron James' agent at the start of his NBA career, negotiating major endorsement deals with Nike and Coca-Cola. James changed his representation in 2005, leaving Goodwin for Leon Rose.
In addition to James, Goodwin previously represented Kevin Durant. The two-time NBA Finals MVP parted ways with Goodwin in 2012.