The new NBA rule that could make Portland think twice about keeping Lillard for a while
As the Heat continues ongoing attempts to acquire Portland guard Damian Lillard, the NBA this week seemingly eliminated one potential path that would have allowed the Trail Blazers to delay a trade.
As part of new NBA rules designed to prevent healthy star players from sitting out games, the NBA said that teams must refrain from any long-term shutdown, “when a star player stops participating in games or plays in a materially reduced role in circumstances affecting the integrity of the game.”
ESPN’s Bobby Marks, a former Nets executive, said the new rule precludes the Blazers and Lillard from agreeing for him to stay away from the team while Portland waits for a trade offer that it considers to be palatable. While it was unclear if either party was interested in that path, it’s now off the table, per Marks.
“If Portland and Lillard come to an agreement that we’re going to shut you down, the NBA is going to step in and say we’re going to fine you and we’re going to fine you significantly,” Marks said.
“We are going to see how it plays out with Damian Lillard and James Harden [who has requested a trade from Philadelphia]. The days of shutting down a player that maybe is involved in trade talks is no longer going to happen any more.”
That policy could benefit the Heat in this way: Because the option of sitting a healthy Lillard will now be subject to considerable NBA scrutiny and a substantial league fine, the Blazers must decide whether it’s worth playing Lillard and risking a potential injury that could further diminish the value of a 33-year-old player with four years and $216 million left on his contract.
The Heat is the team known to be pursuing Lillard, who on July 1 asked the Blazers to trade him to Miami. But the Blazers have been unwilling to engage the Heat in serious trade talks for most of the summer.
Asked in a news conference this week about trade requests by Lillard and Harden, commissioner Adam Silver said: “Don’t like them, as a league. I want players and teams to both honor their contracts. I’m watching everything going on in Portland and Philadelphia and hoping they get resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. I’m glad it seems to have calmed down as far as public discourse.”
In an interview with ESPN’s Marc Spears, Lillard recently confirmed that he has requested a trade but did not mention Miami (doing so would have left him vulnerable to an NBA fine) and said he would not speak of the Trail Blazers.
The Heat and Portland open training camp in early October.
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Though several accomplished veteran point guards are available in free agency, the Heat hasn’t been actively pursuing one, according to a source.
Kyle Lowry is the only natural point guard on the Heat’s roster, but a person familiar with the team’s thinking said he won’t be surprised if the Heat opts for Tyler Herro or even Josh Richardson as a starting primary ball handler if it’s unable to acquire Lillard before the season opener.
Lowry could continue to come off the bench in that scenario.
The Heat has been waiting for clarity on the Lillard situation before signing a 14th player. Even if Miami acquires Lillard, it could revisit the idea of adding another point guard if Lowry is part of a Lillard trade.
Goran Dragic has interest in a return to the Heat.
The list of free agent point guards includes Cameron Payne, Dragic, Kendrick Nunn, D.J. Augustin, Michael Carter-Williams, Edmond Sumner and George Hill.
▪ Heat forward Jimmy Butler turned 34 on Thursday.
