Whether Damian Lillard will leave the Trail Blazers this summer has become one of the hottest topics of the offseason. Lillard has made it clear to the Live Cricket BPL league office that he wants to join the Miami Heat. Unfortunately for him, the Trail Blazers have shown little interest in making that deal happen. Rather than bending over backward to please others, they seem more focused on guarding their own interests. Communication between the two franchises has been minimal, which speaks volumes about Portland’s current stance. It’s worth noting that Miami has already made two trade offers.

Despite the Heat doing everything in their power to meet Portland’s demands, the Blazers remain unmoved. Looking at how things are unfolding, it’s hard to ignore that Portland may be deliberately retaliating against Lillard. Let’s not forget—they initially agreed to continue working together. But almost overnight, Lillard changed course and requested a trade. What made it worse was his insistence on only joining Miami, leaving the Blazers in a tight spot with no leverage. A player who goes back on his word rarely earns lasting respect.

In this light, Live Cricket BPL sees Portland’s behavior as a calculated response. Now it’s a waiting game to see which side will blink first. If things drag on, both could end up worse off—Portland pays Lillard while he sits on the sidelines. For the team, that’s money wasted. And for Lillard, it’s wasted time. With training camps fast approaching, some sort of resolution is expected within the next month. Should a trade finally go through, multiple first-round picks could provide the Trail Blazers with a solid foundation for rebuilding.

Realistically, even with Lillard on the roster, Portland isn’t likely to make a deep playoff run. Time waits for no one. Losing a star may sting, but it opens up space to secure the team’s long-term future. For Lillard, who’s laser-focused on chasing a championship, Miami does seem like the perfect fit. Surrounded by defensive anchors like Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler, Lillard can unleash his offensive strengths while having his defensive gaps covered.

From a practical standpoint, Live Cricket BPL believes that for a small-market team like Portland, trading away Lillard could be a smart long-term play. After all, the one who tied the knot must be the one to untie it. If Lillard truly wants to part ways with Portland, he might need to stop putting all his eggs in the Miami basket. Hoping a shrewd veteran like Pat Riley will make a losing deal isn’t exactly betting on the right horse.