Damian Lillard's request for a trade one day into free agency has the Portland Trail Blazers on the clock.
As ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne reported, the Miami Heat, LA Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers are three teams that will have interest in exploring a Lillard trade. Lillard's preference is to be traded to the Heat, a source told Andscape's Marc J. Spears. Lillard also has a deep respect for the San Antonio Spurs organization, sources told Shelburne.
Here is a look at what the potential suitors can offer in trade talks, who is likely off the table and the challenges each team faces.
Lillard has four years and $200 million left on his contract. Because of the new collective bargaining agreement, teams would have to use the 110% traded player exception if a Lillard trade would leave them over the first or second apron. If a team is below either apron and uses the 125% trade player exception (sending out less in matching salary), they would not be allowed to exceed the $172 million first apron in any transaction, including signing a player.
MORE: Reaction and analysis | Trades we want to see | Latest news
Portland Trail Blazers
Cannot be traded: Jerami Grant
First-round assets and trade exceptions
Portland owes Chicago a first-round pick with top-14 protection from 2024 to 2028
The Trail Blazers can trade a first but only two years after the first to Chicago is conveyed
Five available future second-round picks
Trade exceptions: $8.3 million and $2.2 million
Cash: $7.1 million to send or receive
Tradable contracts (2023-24 season)
Damian Lillard: $45.6 million; player option in 2025-26
Anfernee Simons: $24.1 million; unrestricted free agent in 2026
Jusuf Nurkic: $16.9 million: $18.9 million; unrestricted free agent in 2026
Scoot Henderson: $9.8 million; restricted free agent in 2027 (Note: Henderson cannot be traded until July 31.)
Shaedon Sharpe: $6.3 million; restricted free agent in 2026
Nassir Little: $6.3 million; unrestricted free agent in 2026
Keon Johnson: $2.8 million; restricted free agent in 2024
Kris Murray: $2.8 million; restricted free agent in 2027 (Note: Murray cannot be traded until July 31.)
Jabari Walker: $1.7 million (partial guarantee); restricted free agent in 2025
Jeenathan Williams: $1.7 million (non-guaranteed); restricted free agent in 2024
Rayan Rupert: $1.1 million; team option in 2025-2026 (Note: Rupert cannot be traded until Aug. 3.)
Boston Celtics
Off the board: Jayson Tatum, Dalano Banton and Oshae Brissett
First-round assets and trade exceptions
Own first-round picks: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 (San Antonio has the right to swap firsts, top-one protected), 2029 and 2030 (cannot be traded in back-to-back seasons)
Golden State: Top-four protected in 2024. The first is top-one protected in 2025, unprotected in 2026 if not conveyed in the prior seasons
The right to swap first-round picks in every year except 2028
Eight future second-round picks available to trade
Trade exception: $6.2 million
Cash: $7.1 million to send or receive
Rights to: Jordan Walsh, Juhann Begarin, Yam Madar
Tradable contracts (2023-24 season)
Kristaps Porzingis: $36 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024 (Note: Porzingis is still eligible to be traded if he signs a two-year extension but cannot be aggregated.)
Jaylen Brown: $31.8 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024 (Note: Brown would not be supermax eligible if he is traded. He would be allowed to sign a four-year, $191 million max extension six months after a trade.)
Malcolm Brogdon: $22.5 million; unrestricted free agent in 2025
Derrick White: $18.4 million; unrestricted free agent in 2025
Robert Williams III: $11.5 million; unrestricted free agent in 2026
Al Horford: $10 million; unrestricted free agent in 2025
Payton Pritchard: $4 million; restricted free agent in 2024
Sam Hauser: $1.9 million; team option in 2024-25
Luke Kornet: $2.4 million (non-guaranteed); unrestricted free agent in 2024
Julian Champagnie: $1.9 million (non-guaranteed); restricted free agent in 2024
Brooklyn Nets
Off the board: Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Lonnie Walker IV and Dennis Smith Jr.
First-round assets and trade exceptions
Own first-round picks: 2028, 2029 and 2030 (cannot trade in back-to-back years)
The right to swap firsts in 2028, 2029, 2030
Phoenix Suns first-round picks: unprotected in 2025, 2027 and 2029
The right to swap firsts in 2028 with Phoenix
Philadelphia 76ers first-round pick: top-eight protected in 2027 and 2028. The pick turns into a 2028 second if not conveyed.
Dallas Mavericks first-round pick: unprotected in 2029
Eight future second-round picks available to trade
Cash: $7.1 million to send or receive
Rights to: Dariq Whitehead, Noah Clowney and Jalen Wilson
Tradable contracts (2023-24 season)
Ben Simmons: $37.9 million; unrestricted free agent in 2025
Spencer Dinwiddie: $20.4 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Dorian Finney-Smith: $13.9 million; player option 2025-26
Nic Claxton: $9.6 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Royce O'Neale: $9.5 million (partial guarantee); unrestricted free agent in 2024
Edmond Sumner: $2.2 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Cam Thomas: $2.2 million; restricted free agent in 2026
Day'Ron Sharpe: 2.2 million; restricted free agent in 2026
Bobby Marks breaks down ways that teams could acquire Portland's Damian Lillard.
LA Clippers
Off the board: Russell Westbrook and Mason Plumlee
First-round assets and trade exceptions
Own first-round picks: 2028, 2029, 2030 (cannot trade in back-to-back years)
First-round pick swap in 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030
Six future second-round picks available to trade
Cash: $7.1 million to send or receive
Rights to: Jordan Miller
Tradable contracts (2023-24 season)
Paul George: $45.6 million; player option in 2024-25
Kawhi Leonard: $45.6 million; player option in 2024-25
Norman Powell: $18 million; unrestricted free agent in 2026
Marcus Morris Sr.: $17.1 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Nicolas Batum: $11.7 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Robert Covington: $11.7 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Ivica Zubac: $10.9 million; unrestricted free agent in 2025
Terance Mann: $10.6 million; unrestricted free agent in 2025
Amir Coffey: $3.7 million; unrestricted free agent in 2025
Kobe Brown: 2.4 million; restricted free agent in 2027 (Note: Brown cannot be traded until Aug. 2)
Bones Hyland: $2.3 million; restricted free agent in 2025
Kenyon Martin Jr.: $1.9 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Jason Preston: $1.8 million; restricted free agent in 2024
Brandon Boston Jr.: $1.8 million; restricted free agent in 2024
Miami Heat
Off the board: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Kevin Love, Josh Richardson and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (30-day trade restriction)
First-round assets and trade exceptions
Miami owes Oklahoma City a top-14 protected first-round pick in 2025. The pick becomes unprotected in 2026 if not conveyed.
Own first-round picks: 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030 (cannot trade in back-to-back years)
First-round pick swap: 2024, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030
Three future second-round picks available to trade
Cash: $7.1 million to send or receive
Tradable contracts (2023-24 season)
Kyle Lowry: $29.7 million; unrestricted free agent in 2025
Tyler Herro: $27 million; unrestricted free agent in 2027
Duncan Robinson: $18.1 million (partial guarantee in 2024-25); unrestricted free agent in 2025
Jamie Jaquez Jr.: $3.5 million; restricted free agent in 2027 (Note: Jaquez cannot be traded until July 31.)
Caleb Martin: $6.8 million; player option in 2024-25
Nikola Jovic: $2.3 million; restricted free agent in 2026
Haywood Highsmith: $1.9 million (partial guarantee); unrestricted free agent in 2024
New Orleans Pelicans
Off the board: Herbert Jones and Cody Zeller
First-round assets and trade exceptions
Own first-round picks: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030 (cannot trade in back-to-back years)
First-round pick swap in every season
Unprotected first-round pick from LA Lakers (2024 but can defer to 2025)
2025 first-round pick from Milwaukee if it falls in the top four
Unprotected first-round pick from Milwaukee (2027)
Swap rights: Milwaukee Bucks (2024 and 2026)
Two future second-round picks available to trade
Draft rights to Karlo Matkovic
Cash: $7.1 million to send or receive
Tradable contracts (2023-24 season)
CJ McCollum: $35.8 million; unrestricted free agent in 2026
Brandon Ingram: $33.8 million; unrestricted free agent in 2025 (Note: Ingram has a $10.5 million trade bonus in his contract. The bonus is split and added to his 2023-24 and 2024-25 salaries if he is traded. The Pelicans would be responsible for paying the bonus.)
Zion Williamson: $34 million; unrestricted free agent in 2028
Jonas Valanciunas: $15.4 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024 (Note: Valanciunas has a $1 million trade bonus in his contract.)
Larry Nance Jr: $10.4 million; unrestricted free agent in 2025
Dyson Daniels: $5.8 million; restricted free agent in 2026
Kira Lewis Jr: $5.7 million; restricted free agent in 2025
Jordan Hawkins: $4.3 million; restricted free agent in 2027 (Note: Hawkins cannot be traded until Aug. 2.)
Trey Murphy III: $3.6 million; restricted free agent in 2025
Naji Marshall: $1.9 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Jose Alvarado: $1.8 million (non-guaranteed); unrestricted in 2025
Philadelphia 76ers
Off the board: Joel Embiid, Patrick Beverley and Mo Bamba
First-round assets and trade exceptions
Own first-round pick: 2030
First-round pick swap: 2024, 2029, 2030
Three future second-round picks available to trade
Cash: $7.1 million to send or receive
Tradable contracts (2023-24 season)
Tobias Harris: $39.3 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024 (Note: Harris has a $1.9 million trade bonus in his contract.)
James Harden: $35.6 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024 (Note: Harden has a $5.4 million trade bonus in his contract.)
P.J. Tucker: $11 million; player option in 2024-25
De'Anthony Melton: $8 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Furkan Korkmaz: $5.4 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Danuel House Jr.: $4.3 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Tyrese Maxey: $4.3 million; restricted free agent in 2024
Jaden Springer: $2.2 million; restricted free agent in 2025
San Antonio Spurs
Off the board: Victor Wembanyama, Tre Jones, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Julian Champagnie
First-round assets and trade exceptions
Own first-round picks: 2024 to 2030
First-round pick swap: 2024 to 2030
2024 Charlotte first (top-14 protected). The pick is top-14 protected in 2025 and will turn into 2026 and 2027 second-round picks if not conveyed.
2024 Toronto first (top-six protected). The pick is top-six protected in 2025 and 2026. It will turn into 2026 and 2027 second-round picks if not conveyed.
2025 Atlanta unprotected first
2025 Chicago top-10 protected first. The pick is top-eight protected first in 2026 and 2027. It will turn into a 2028 second if not conveyed.
2027 Atlanta unprotected first
The right to swap firsts with Boston (top-one protected) in 2028
The right to swap firsts with Dallas in 2030
17 future second-round picks available to trade
Cash: $7.1 million to send or receive
Rights to: Sidy Cissoko
Cap space: $12.5 million
Tradable contracts (2023-24 season)
Keldon Johnson: $20 million; unrestricted free agent in 2027-28
Doug McDermott: $13.8 million; unrestricted free agent in 2025
Devonte' Graham: $12.1 million (partial guarantee in 2024-25); unrestricted free agent in 2025)
Reggie Bullock: $10.5 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Zach Collins: $7.7 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Khem Birch: $6.9 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Cedi Osman: $6.7 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Jeremy Sochan: $5.3 million; restricted free agent in 2026
Devin Vassell: $5.9 million; restricted free agent in 2024
Malaki Branham: $3.1 million; restricted free agent in 2026
Charles Bassey: $2.6 million; unrestricted free agent in 2026 (non-guaranteed in 2024-25 and 2025-26)
Blake Wesley: $2.5 million; restricted free agent in 2026
Lamar Stevens: $1.9 million (partial guarantee); unrestricted free agent in 2024
Toronto Raptors
Off the board: Jakob Poeltl, Scottie Barnes, Dennis Schroder and Jalen McDaniels
First-round assets and trade exceptions
Own first-round picks: 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030 (cannot trade in back-to-back years)
Note: The Raptors can trade their 2027 first-round pick only if the first-round pick owed to San Antonio is conveyed in 2025. Toronto owes the Spurs a top-six protected first-round pick in 2024, 2025 or 2026.First-round pick swap: 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030
Three future second-round picks available to trade
Cash: $7.1 million to send or receive
Tradable contracts (2023-24 season)
Pascal Siakam: $37.9 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
O.G. Anunoby: $18.6 million; player option in 2023-24
Gary Trent Jr.: $18.6 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Chris Boucher: $11.8 million; unrestricted free agent in 2025
Thaddeus Young: $8 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Otto Porter Jr.: $6.3 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Gradey Dick: $4.5 million; restricted free agent (Note: Dick cannot be traded until Aug. 1.)
Precious Achiuwa: $4.4 million; restricted free agent in 2024
Malachi Flynn: $3.8 million; restricted free agent in 2024)
Christian Koloko: $1.7 million (non-guaranteed in 2024-25); restricted free agent in 2025
Utah Jazz
Off the board: Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson and Walker Kessler
First-round assets and trade exceptions
Own first-round pick in 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 (cannot trade in back-to-back seasons)
Note: Utah owes Oklahoma City a protected first-round pick in 2024 (top-10), 2025 (top-10) and 2026 (top-eight).Three unprotected firsts from Minnesota (2025, 2027)
Three unprotected firsts from Cleveland (2025, 2027, 2029)
Top-four protected first from LA Lakers (2027)
Top-five protected first from Minnesota (2029)
First-round pick swap rights: Minnesota or Cleveland (2026) and Cleveland (2028).
Swap rights on their own first-round picks in 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030
Two future second-round picks available to trade
Cash: $7.1 million to send or receive
Tradable contracts (2023-24 season)
John Collins: $25.3 million; player option in 2025-26
Collin Sexton: $17.3 million; unrestricted free agent in 2026
Kelly Olynyk: $12.2 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Talen Horton-Tucker: $11 million; unrestricted free agent in 2024
Taylor Hendricks: $5.6 million; restricted free agent in 2027 (Note: Hendricks cannot be traded until Aug. 1.)
Ochai Agbaji: 4.1 million; restricted free agent in 2026
Keyonte George: $3.9 million; restricted free agent in 2027 (Note: George cannot be traded until Aug. 1.)
Simone Fontecchio: $3.1 million; restricted free agent in 2024
Brice Sensabaugh: $2.5 million; restricted free agent in 2027 (Note: Sensabaugh cannot be traded until Aug. 1.)
Kris Dunn: $2.6 million (non-guaranteed); unrestricted free agent in 2024
Luka Samanic: $2.1 million (non-guaranteed): unrestricted free agent in 2024
Vernon Carey Jr.: $2.0 million (non-guaranteed); restricted free agent in 2024
MORE: Build your own Damian Lillard trade in the ESPN NBA Trade Machine