Superstar Damian Lillard was moved by the Portland Trail Blazers to the Milwaukee Bucks in the summer of 2023, even though he had wanted to join the Miami Heat.
Due in part to Lillard’s efforts to compel his way to Miami, Portland and Miami never engaged in negotiations.
The package that Portland may have received if general manager Joe Cronin had contacted Heat president Pat Riley will be up for debate for a while.
However, it is certain that Tyler Herro, a guard for Miami, would have been at the heart of any transaction.
Due to the fact that they already had guards Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe and had recently selected Scoot Henderson, the Blazers showed little interest in Herro.
In addition, Herro was expected to earn $120 million for the following four seasons.
Portland took a different route and ended up with guard Jrue Holiday, a future selection, and two Bucks trades that might be worth a lot if Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo leaves, likely forcing them to enter the lottery.
Herro is superior to the players the Blazers received in exchange, notwithstanding the possibility of those selections—which aren’t certain to be superior to Miami’s selections following a Lillard-Jimmy Butler union. He might be superior to all of the Blazers’ players.
After the Blazers dispatched Holiday further east, they got Robert Williams III and Malcolm Brogdon from Boston. In exchange for center Deandre Ayton and 2023 second-round pick Toumani Camara, the Blazers traded guard Keon Johnson, forward Nassir Little, center Jusuf Nurkic, and center Grayson Allen—who they had acquired from the Bucks—to Phoenix.
On draft night 2024, Brogdon was sent to Washington for Deni Avdija along with two first-round picks. Camara has become into a fantastic defensive defender. Williams missed 76 games last season and 25 so far this season due to injuries.
Then there is Herro, whom Rip City dismissed as a scrub on social media. Herro played in just 42 games last season due to a number of injuries. However, he shot 39.6% from three-point range and 44.1% from the field, averaging 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists.
The other players with comparable stats were Brogdon (in 39 games with Portland), Simons, and forward Jerami Grant.
On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe makes a basket against New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3). (Photo by Gerald Herbert/AP) APAP
This season, Herro has improved his performance to 23.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists while shooting 40.1% from outside the arc and 46.7% from the field. He has reached career highs in assists, rebounds, shooting percentages, and scoring.
The numbers for Simons and Grant have decreased. The Blazers’ players aren’t scoring 20 points a game on average. In terms of assists, Herro would come in second to Simons (5.1). Additionally, Herro leads all Blazers players with more than 200 minutes played this season with an offensive rating of 117.
Was it a blow for the Blazers? In a way. Herro’s trade value would be far more than that of Ayton, who is scheduled to receive $36 million next season. Miami would never entertain moving Herro for Ayton—or even for Hendrson, for that matter. Not likely for Simons. For Sharpe, perhaps.
Given his exceptional athleticism, Sharpe most likely has further potential. However, compared to Sharpe, 21, who is currently in his third season, Herro, 24, was far more reliable.
Nevertheless, the Blazers showed a strong devotion to their guard trio. A strong backcourt might be formed by Simons and Sharpe. Additionally, Sharpe might be a better all-around player than Herro.
Furthermore, Herro is hardly a high-end defender as Camara has become.
Ultimately, the Blazers got a good deal on Lillard. Herro might be worth more in a trade than the players the Blazers got, but it doesn’t mean Portland made a complete mistake by not looking for a package around him.
However, the Blazers would be more effective at the moment, particularly if they added Miami forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Herro’s star is undoubtedly rising, and the Blazers are still looking for someone who could become as good as him.
Forecast: Jimmy Butler, a forward, is out for the Heat due to suspension. The Heat are still a formidable opponent because of Herro and big Bam Adebayo.
They won at Golden State and Utah before losing in overtime at Sacramento to start their six-game journey. The Heat close their trip at the LA Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers following playing Portland.
The Heat, seventh in the Eastern Conference, shouldn t take the Blazers lightly but this is a game Miami should win.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS. MIAMI HEAT
What:Trail Blazers (13-24) vs. Heat (19-17), 7 p.m., Saturday.
Series: Initial encounter. The teams will meet again on Jan. 21 in Miami.
Where: Moda Center.
Rip City Radio (KPOJ 620 AM) is the radio station.
TV channel: KATU (Portland, antenna: 2.2). Xfinity: 1170 and 302. 688-1 is DirecTV.KUNP (antenna: 47.1). 16, 302, 1170 Xfinity. Spectrum: 184; DirecTV: 47.
Rip City TV Network is the way to watch. An HDTV antenna on your local ABC affiliate (Charge 2.2 in Portland) will allow you to watch this game live for free even if you don’t have cable. These antennas cost about $20 and are very simple to install. You may get one at your neighborhood Fred Meyer or Bi-Mart, or you can buy one online from Amazon or Walmart and have it delivered right to your house. Here are some guidelines for configuring an HDTV antenna on your TV or other display. Use the channel finder here to learn more about the channel that Rip City TV Network is available on in your area.
DraftKings/Oregon Lottery (ODDS)
Moneyline:POR +145 | MIA -175
Spread:POR +4 |Over/Under:215.5
INJURIES
Blazers: Deandre Ayton(left calf soreness) is questionable.Both Matisse Thybulle (right ankle strain) and Jerami Grant (facial contusion) are not available.
Heat: Tyler Herro(left knee contusion) is available.Josh Richardson(right heel inflammation) is questionable.Jimmy Butler(team suspension) andDru Smith(left Achilles surgery) are out.
UPCOMING
The Blazers host the Brooklyn Nets (13-24 entering Friday) at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
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Aaron J. Fentress | [email protected]|@AaronJFentress (Facebook), @AaronFentress (Instagram), and @AaronJFentress (Twitter)
