<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/damian-lillard" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Damian Lillard&nbsp;</a>and the&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/portland-trail-blazers" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Portland Trail Blazers</a>&nbsp;aren’t on the same page right now. The multi-time All-Star&nbsp;is eager to play for the&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Miami Heat</a>, but they will only trade him there if they meet their requirements.



The Blazers&nbsp;have been unmoved&nbsp;by the Heat’s current offer centered around Tyler Herro, and their attempts to get a third team involved in the deal have been unsuccessful thus far.



So, what if the Heat aren’t able to pull it off?&nbsp;Will Lillard change his mind?&nbsp;It seems highly unlikely at this point. With that in mind, let’s take a look at other&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">NBA</a>&nbsp;teams he could be heading to.



<h2>NBA Rumors: 3 Potential Teams For Damian Lillard</h2>



Utah Jazz:&nbsp;Lillard made a name for himself while at&nbsp;Weber State, so, obviously he’s still quite beloved in the area. The&nbsp;Utah Jazz&nbsp;have more than enough assets to pull off this trade, and Danny Ainge&nbsp;has never been a fan of tanking. Lillard, John Collins, Lauri Markkanen, and Walker Kessler&nbsp;could lead them to the playoffs.



New York Knicks:&nbsp;The&nbsp;New York Knicks&nbsp;have more assets than almost every other team in the NBA, so they could one-up the Heat in a heartbeat. They have a combination of picks, young players, and big salaries, and a need for another star.&nbsp;Jalen Brunson&nbsp;and Lillard could easily coexist in the backcourt.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/anfernee-simons-has-one-big-request-for-damian-lillard-before-hes-traded-20230818-BUS-48850.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230818_BUS_48850_Damian-Lillard-and-Anfernee-Simons.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Even though Damian Lillad is still a part of his team, Anfernee Simons knows it&apos;s just a matter of time before that changes.
" title="Anfernee Simons has one big request for Damian Lillard before he&apos;s traded" publication_id="BUS#20230818#BUS#48850"></div>


Philadelphia 76ers:&nbsp;Long before his trade request got leaked, the&nbsp;Philadelphia 76ers&nbsp;were already a rumor — and logical — destination for him.&nbsp;James Harden&nbsp;has vowed never to play again for them, so maybe they could work something around their disgruntled stars. Lillard and&nbsp;Joel Embiid&nbsp;would dominate together.

NBA Rumors: Dark Horse destinations for Damian Lillard

NBA Rumors: Dark Horse destinations for Damian Lillard - Bolavip US

thumbnail

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lionel-messi" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lionel Messi</a>&nbsp;has transformed <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/inter-miami" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Inter Miami</a>. One of the worst teams in the&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/mls" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MLS</a>&nbsp;just won the&nbsp;2023 Leagues Cup&nbsp;by beating Nashville SC in the final. The legend closed an amazing tournament’s run with ten goals in seven matches. Just spectacular.



Messi’s new chapter in the United States is being a massive success thanks to the help of extraordinary players such as&nbsp;Sergio Busquets&nbsp;and&nbsp;Jordi Alba. Their impact has been massive in after only two weeks at Inter Miami.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/uefa-makes-final-decision-about-cristiano-ronaldo-and-neymar-playing-at-the-champions-league-20230818-BUS-48618.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230818_BUS_48618_cristianoronaldo-4.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Many rumors point out Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar could have a shot at the UEFA Champions League even playing in Saudi Arabia.
" title="UEFA makes final decision about Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar playing at the Champions League" publication_id="BUS#20230818#BUS#48618"></div>


Now, soccer is living extraordinary moments with Lionel Messi leading a revolution in the US while <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cristiano-ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>&nbsp;does it in&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/saudi-arabia">Saudi Arabia</a>. Even stars of other sports like Giannis Antetokounmpo have joined that ‘rivalry’. 



<h2>Giannis Antetokounmpo trolls Lionel Messi with Cristiano Ronaldo</h2>



Giannis Antetokounmpo is a minority owner of Nashville SC in the MLS. That’s why he was present at Geodis Park to watch the final of the Leagues Cup against Inter Miami.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/nashville-sc-coach-says-lionel-messi-and-inter-miami-didnt-deserve-to-win-the-2023-leagues-cup-20230820-BUS-49672.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230820_BUS_49672_lionelmessi-7.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Gary Smith made very controversial comments after Nashville SC lost the Leagues Cup against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.
" title="Nashville SC coach says Lionel Messi and Inter Miami didn&apos;t deserve to win the 2023 Leagues Cup" publication_id="BUS#20230820#BUS#49672"></div>

 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/bad-news-for-lionel-messis-inter-miami-the-deal-wont-happen-20230727-BUS-36476.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230727_BUS_36476_messi-3.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Lionel Messi just got terrible news about a massive transfer he wanted to improve Inter Miami in MLS. 
" title="Bad news for Lionel Messi&apos;s Inter Miami: &apos;The deal won&apos;t happen&apos;" publication_id="BUS#20230727#BUS#36476"></div>


Just minutes before the game started, Giannis took the field and trolled some Inter Miami fans by making the famous celebration move of Cristiano Ronaldo. The sequence was a hit on social media as a possible ‘challenge’ to Lionel Messi.



Then, Messi answered on the field by scoring a superb goal to win his first trophy in the United States. After such a tremendous performance, Giannis Antetokounmpo took a step back and recognized greatness: “Messi. Respect.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/contract-until-2025-and-salary-of-e160-million-neymar-frustrates-barcelona-and-leaves-psg-after-6-years-20230813-BUS-45667.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230813_BUS_45667_neymar-2.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Neymar is ready to leave PSG, but his next club will be a total surprise. Bad news for Barcelona.
" title="Contract until 2025 and salary of €160 million: Neymar frustrates Barcelona and leaves PSG after 6 years" publication_id="BUS#20230813#BUS#45667"></div>


However, in a second tweet after congratulating the star from Argentina, Giannis published his ‘Cristiano Ronaldo moment’.“Didn’t get the results we wanted, but what a great atmosphere. Nashville SC we will be back stronger and better than ever.” 



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Didn’t get the results we wanted but what a great atmosphere, <a href="https://twitter.com/NashvilleSC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NashvilleSC</a> we will be back stronger and better than ever⚽️🙏🏽😃 <a href="https://t.co/02gGxwAEdf">pic.twitter.com/02gGxwAEdf</a>— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) <a href="https://twitter.com/Giannis_An34/status/1693116395670642730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>

Giannis Antetokounmpo had to 'apologize' after trolling Lionel Messi with Cristiano Ronaldo

Bad news for Lionel Messi's Inter Miami: 'The deal won't happen'

Nashville SC coach says Lionel Messi and Inter Miami didn't deserve to win the 2023 Leagues Cup

Giannis Antetokounmpo had to 'apologize' after trolling Lionel Messi with Cristiano Ronaldo - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> defied the odds by making the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> Finals last season. Erik Spoelstra’s team struggled to string good results together in the regular season, but its performances were completely different in the playoffs.



Miami became Eastern Conference champions as the eight seed, which is not something you see in the league every year. But their loss to the Nuggets proved they still have work to do.



Even so, the Heat have yet to make a move that makes them stronger next season. Damian Lillard remains their priority target, but Portland hasn’t made things easy. Even so, coach Spo is confident about the roster’s status.



<h2>Erik Spoelstra not worried about Heat roster for next NBA season</h2>



“We have most of our work done. We’re bringing back the majority of our players &amp; that’s a luxury in this league,” Spoelstra told ESPN. “We feel great about our group. We made some nice additions. J-Rich, Thomas Bryant &amp; Jaquez. Tyler’s healthy. Jimmy &amp; Bam. That’s a great core. So we’re excited.”



Of course, the biggest question around the South Florida team has been whether it will ultimately land Dame. While the Heat seem to need another star to help Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, they’ve also lost some key contributors.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/former-nba-champion-compares-jimmy-butler-to-kobe-bryant-20230818-BUS-49019.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230818_BUS_49019_jimmybutler-2.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler has many admirers in the NBA world, and a former champion even drew parallels between him and Kobe Bryant.
" title="Former NBA champion compares Jimmy Butler to Kobe Bryant" publication_id="BUS#20230818#BUS#49019"></div>


Gabe Vincent and Max Strus left in free agency, which worries many Heat fans. However, this is not something new for Spoelstra, who always finds a way to get the best out of his players.

NBA Rumors: Erik Spoelstra gets real on Heat's offseason moves

NBA Rumors: Erik Spoelstra gets real on Heat's offseason moves - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden">James Harden</a> wants out of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers">Philadelphia 76ers</a> only a year and a half after leaving the Brooklyn Nets. The Beard doesn’t seem to care if <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/joel-embiid">Joel Embiid</a> or Patrick Beverley are reporting for next season, he made up his mind.



The veteran guard opted into a player option this summer but only to get traded, after the Sixers didn’t offer him a max contract extension. Recently, he made it clear his relationship with Daryl Morey is broken.



The situation may be uncomfortable for those on the team who want Harden to stay. Pat Bev was one of the players who asked the guard to reconsider his decision, but now there’s not much he can do.



<h2>Patrick Beverley understands ‘both sides’ on Sixers-Harden drama</h2>



“Obviously, he’s entitled to feel any way loss when he’s promised things, and on Daryl’s behalf, no matter what, his job is to get the best product for as cheap as possible. That’s his job. That’s the name of the game. You’re a GM, you’re a president, you’re trying to get a bunch of great product and a bunch of great product for at least as possible, and I think we’re in the middle of that right now. Obviously, it’s not a good look media-wise, organizational-wise,” Beverley said on his The Pat Bev Podcast with Rone, via Sixers Wire.



“Obviously, a guy like Nick Nurse who’s just starting out coaching, it’s not a good setup for him…it’s hard to mix business with friends because someone’s gonna get hurt down the line if things aren’t going your way and you don’t want that to be to a point where you guys don’t even have a relationship anymore.



“So I understand both sides. I definitely understand both sides. Saying all these players in this league, you get a ton of money. Obviously, you understand the player side, because I’m a player. I’m always gonna be on the player side and also doing business with friends too. I’ve done business with friends that haven’t worked out to my liking and then you have to end relationships because of that. So, I understand both sides. It’s just an unfortunate situation.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-rumors-realistic-destinations-for-james-harden-20230818-BUS-48636.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230818_BUS_48636_James-Harden-5.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Even if the Philadelphia 76ers are reluctant to give up on him, James Harden&apos;s situation could become unsustainable.
" title="NBA Rumors: Realistic destinations for James Harden" publication_id="BUS#20230818#BUS#48636"></div>


Beverley understands Harden has made up his mind and there’s no turning back on this situation. Now, it may be just a matter of time before the Sixers find a team that meets their asking price for Harden.

NBA News: Patrick Beverley has some thoughts about James Harden's situation

NBA News: Patrick Beverley's thoughts about James Harden's situation - Bolavip US

A few weeks ago,&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Harden</a>&nbsp;asked the&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Philadelphia 76ers</a>&nbsp;to be traded. In order to accelerate that process, the star exercised his $35.6 million option for the 2023-24 season.



From that moment on, the next step was supposed to be a trade. It all made sense as Harden left on the table the chance to become a&nbsp;free agent&nbsp;in order to increase the possible number of teams which would be able to pay him. The 76ers had other plans.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/damian-lillard-officially-wants-to-play-with-jimmy-butler-and-miami-heat-20230701-BUS-21378.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230701_BUS_21378_damianlillard-1.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Damian Lillard has chosen his next team. The Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler are favorites to land him, but, the Blazers might have a final word. 
" title="Damian Lillard gets bad news from Blazers" publication_id="BUS#20230701#BUS#21378"></div>


However, in a shocking turn of events for the&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a>, James Harden is officially out of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lebron-james-remains-silent-after-blockbuster-trades-in-nba-20230623-BUS-16505.html">trading&nbsp;block</a>. That’s sparked a massive controversy as the player wanted to leave with suitors ready to get him such as the Los Angeles Clippers. 



<h2>James Harden confirms relationship with Sixers cannot be repaired</h2>



On Monday, James Harden went full attack mode on Daryl Morey after the president of basketball operations for the 76ers shut down any possible trade. “Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.” 


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lebron-james-announces-final-decision-between-lakers-or-retirement-20230702-BUS-22095.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230702_BUS_22095_lebronjames-1.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="After many weeks of uncertainty, LeBron James has confirmed his final decision between the Los Angeles Lakers and retirement from the NBA.
" title="LeBron James confirms on Instagram the next team he&apos;ll play for in the 2023 season" publication_id="BUS#20230702#BUS#22095"></div>

 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/scottie-pippen-says-michael-jordan-was-a-horrible-player-while-praising-lebron-james-20230527-BUS-4285.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230527_BUS_4285_michaeljordan.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="In a shocking turn of events, Scottie Pippen went all-in against Michael Jordan. Read here to check out the details. 
" title="Scottie Pippen sparks big controversy with Michael Jordan" publication_id="BUS#20230527#BUS#4285"></div>


Three days later, during an interview with KHOU 11 in Houston, Harden was asked if he had an open line of communication and how patient he’ll be. “I’ve been patient all summer. So, for me is just focus on what I can control and that’s working out and staying in shape and getting ready for a good season.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-news-damian-lillard-takes-a-big-shot-at-kevin-durant-20230713-BUS-28386.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230713_BUS_28386_damianlillard-5.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Damian Lillard and Kevin Durant exchanged some words about how to win championships in the NBA. It was a shocking episode between two of the biggest stars. 
" title="Damian Lillard takes a big shot at Kevin Durant" publication_id="BUS#20230713#BUS#28386"></div>


Then, reporter Jason Bristol asked him if it was too late to repair the relationship. James Harden had a very short answer for that: “I think so.” Now, only time will tell if the star finally gets traded or has to stay in Philadelphia.

NBA News: James Harden has another tough message for 76ers

LeBron James confirms on Instagram the next team he'll play for in the 2023 season

Scottie Pippen sparks big controversy with Michael Jordan

NBA News: James Harden has another tough message for 76ers - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jimmy-butler">Jimmy Butler</a> once again proved why he’s one of the most beloved players in today’s <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a>. The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> star put the team on his back last season, almost taking the franchise to a long-awaited championship.



The 33-year-old had his foot on the gas from the beginning of the playoffs and did not let up. Butler stepped up when it mattered the most, scoring crucial points to keep his team’s aspirations alive.



His fantastic performances drew comparisons with other Heat legends, as he looks destined to have his jersey retired in South Florida. But according to Andre Iguodala, Butler also reminds him of Kobe Bryant.



<h2>Andre Iguodala says Jimmy Butler’s mentality reminds him of Kobe Bryant</h2>



“You always look back and say ‘how is Jimmy getting it done?’ He can’t shoot threes, can’t go left. Whatever they say about Jimmy he figured it out,” Iguodala said on the Gil’s Arena podcast.



“I see him dribble with the right hand left and pull-up for three against Milwaukee this year. He’s probably the closest that I’ve seen to Kobe Bryant with that mentality of just man, Jimmy will figure out a way for us to win… This dude got a Kobe Bryant will.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-rumors-jimmy-butler-could-have-been-traded-to-another-team-in-the-east-20230814-BUS-46312.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230814_BUS_46312_Jimmy-Butler-_-Miami-Heat-v-Milwaukee-Bucks-Game-Five.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Jimmy Butler has become one of the greatest players in Miami Heat history, but things could have gone completely different.
" title="NBA Rumors: Jimmy Butler could have been traded to another team in the East" publication_id="BUS#20230814#BUS#46312"></div>


Butler definitely has something special apart from his talent, and that’s his competitive nature. While any Kobe comparisons will always make noise, the Heat star certainly has a desire to win that makes those around him better.

Former NBA champion compares Jimmy Butler to Kobe Bryant

Former NBA champion compares Jimmy Butler to Kobe Bryant - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Golden State Warriors</a> shocked most of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> world when they decided to trade <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jordan-poole" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jordan Poole.</a> It wasn’t just that they did so to get Chris Paul, but more than they were trying to get rid of him.



Poole did a lot of good things for the team and played a pivotal role in their last NBA championship. He was dreadful in the playoffs and tangled up in controversies, but the upside was still there.



That’s why Warriors star Andre Iguodala came to his defense, explaining how he was limited because of the stars he played around, and stating that he was the only player who consistently got to the line for them.



<h2>Andre Iguodala Defends Jordan Poole</h2>



“He was the only one that got to the line for us consistently,” Iguodala said on Gil’s Arena. “People act like he had a bad year. Like, OK he had a bad year? You blame him for the year we had last year and he averaged 20? And they (the Wizards) have no expectations for winning. Twenty-five plus [points per game] easy.”



“Not saying he was in handcuffs, but he was playing with three Hall of Famers and an All-Star [Andrew] Wiggins,” Iguodala said of Poole. “You gotta restrict him a little bit or it’ll be too chaotic. It’s already chaos.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/mike-dunleavy-explains-why-he-chose-draymond-green-over-jordan-poole-20230810-BUS-44329.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230810_BUS_44329_Draymond-Green.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="As much as Mike Dunleavy Jr. appreciated Jordan Poole, he chose to stay loyal to Draymond Green.
" title="Mike Dunleavy explains why he chose Draymond Green over Jordan Poole" publication_id="BUS#20230810#BUS#44329"></div>


Poole will now have an opportunity to start over and prove the Warriors wrong for giving up on him. As for winning games, that’ll be difficult with the new-look Washington Wizards.

Warriors' Andre Iguodala gets real on the Jordan Poole trade

Warriors' Andre Iguodala gets real on the Jordan Poole trade - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/portland-trail-blazers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Portland Trail Blazers</a> are in a delicate spot with <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/damian-lillard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Damian Lillard</a>. They still don’t want to trade him to the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miami Heat,</a> but he hasn’t changed his mind about his desire to be traded.



Lillard is undisputedly one of the greatest — if not the greatest — player in franchise history, even if he didn’t lead them to the Finals or a championship like some before him.



That’s why Anfernee Simons always dreamed of asking him for a signed jersey once he retired with the Blazers. But now that he may join another<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba"> NBA </a>team before that, he might have to speed up that request.



<h2>Anfernee Simons Wants Lillard To Give Him A Signed Jersey</h2>



“I was hoping to ask for signed jersey when he retired from Portland but I mean, if he ends up somewhere else I’m going to have to ask for it before,” Simons told Aron J. Fentress. “He taught me so much about the game, being professional, how to workout, how to carry yourself in this type of environment, how to handle success. He’s taught me a lot of things that have set me up in my career.”



“So obviously, those lessons will be missed and hopefully, I’ll obviously carry what he’s taught to me onto the other young players as well,” the young guard continued.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-rumors-damian-lillard-could-be-traded-to-a-western-conference-foe-20230817-BUS-48091.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230817_BUS_48091_Damian-Lillard-4.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Damian Lillard might not get traded to the Miami Heat, but he could still leave the Portland Trail Blazers
" title="NBA Rumors: Damian Lillard could be traded to a Western Conference foe" publication_id="BUS#20230817#BUS#48091"></div>


Lillard was always a mentor and a leader to the young players, but he grew sick and tired of not being able to compete at the highest level. Even so, it feels like his stalemate with the team is far from over.

Anfernee Simons has one big request for Damian Lillard before he's traded

Anfernee Simons has one big request for Damian Lillard before he's traded - Bolavip US

Some <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> fans never truly embraced <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a>. They felt like rooting for The King was like betraying their allegiance to <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kobe-bryant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kobe Bryant</a>, even though they were never actually rivals.



Diehard Kobe fans wouldn’t give James his flowers, and some even vandalized his murals when he first arrived in Southern California. And while that’s no longer the case for the most part, some will never change his mind.



That’s why a little portion of Lakers fans might not be thrilled to know that Austin Reaves has changed his mind, stating that he considered LeBron to be the greatest player in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> history.



<h2>Austin Reaves Makes GOAT Case For LeBron James</h2>



“I would start off by saying in my personal opinion, even being a Kobe guy, he is the greatest player to ever play,” Reaves said. “How good he is at all facets of the game. I don’t think anybody’s been that good at everything… Not even basketball-wise.”



“I can pick up the phone and call him whenever… so that’s super cool… On the court, that’s really where it all started,” added Reaves. “We connected early on an IQ level, just playing the game the right way.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/austin-reaves-reveals-the-lakers-goal-for-the-season-20230816-BUS-47056.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230816_BUS_47056_Austin-Reaves-2.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="The Los Angeles Lakers fell short of their goal last season, and they don&apos;t want to happen again.
" title="Austin Reaves reveals the Lakers goal for the season" publication_id="BUS#20230816#BUS#47056"></div>


Of course, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, and James has more than enough going on to be considered the best ever. But fans are often irrational, and some may not like this at all.

Some Lakers fans won't like Austin Reaves' take on LeBron James

Some Lakers fans won't like Austin Reaves' take on LeBron James - Bolavip US

The<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Philadelphia 76ers</a> didn’t learn from other <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> teams’ mistakes. Daryl Morey thought he could keep<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> James Harden</a> happy, but that has shown to be an impossible task.



James Harden marches to the beat of his own drum, and it’s become more than evident that playing winning basketball has never been much of a priority for him in his career.



That’s why Kevin McHale, who suffered him during his days with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/houston-rockets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Houston Rockets</a>, claimed to feel quite bad about how his never-ending tantrums could affect Nick Nurse and Joel Embiid next season.



<h2>Kevin McHale Feels Bad For The Sixers</h2>



“The person I mostly feel bad for is Joel Embiid,” McHale told Heavy. “This guy’s coming off an MVP season, but when you’re team is fractured at the top — when one of the top two players is like, ‘I’m out of here. The guy’s a liar’ — you’ve got no chance of winning. It’s really hard to win when you’re tied together as a group, and it’s really hard to win four seven-game series. That’s with everybody tied together, everybody pulling together.”



“I feel really bad for Nick Nurse, too,” he added. “You’ve got a new coach coming in, and Nick’s like, ‘Oh, boy. This ought to be interesting.’ It just disrupts the entire flow of the team, and it’s totally unnecessary. You can do a lot of stuff behind the scenes. You don’t need to come out and just throw that out there. James started a forest fire with that.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-rumors-realistic-destinations-for-james-harden-20230818-BUS-48636.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230818_BUS_48636_James-Harden-5.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Even if the Philadelphia 76ers are reluctant to give up on him, James Harden&apos;s situation could become unsustainable.
" title="NBA Rumors: Realistic destinations for James Harden" publication_id="BUS#20230818#BUS#48636"></div>


McHale went through the same thing firsthand and he knows every trick in James Harden’s book. Hopefully, this won’t hurt the Sixers’ chances to go the distance after all they’ve been through.

Kevin McHale feels bad for what James Harden is doing to the Sixers

Kevin McHale feels bad for what James Harden is doing to the Sixers - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">James Harden</a>&nbsp;has made it loud and clear that he doesn’t want to play for an<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;</a>team that has&nbsp;Daryl Morey&nbsp;ever again. This is yet another of his multiple tactics to force his way out of a team, this time, the&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Philadelphia 76ers.</a>



Harden has proven to be unreliable in the playoffs, and his reluctance to honor his contracts could also scare multiple teams away. Add his history of parties and injuries and his steep salary to the list, and&nbsp;trading him could be a problem.



But there could still be some teams interested in acquiring the&nbsp;former&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/houston-rockets" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Houston Rockets&nbsp;</a>star,&nbsp;as he led the league in assists just last season. But which are those teams? Let’s break it down.



<h2>NBA Rumors: 3 Likely Destinations For James Harden</h2>



3. Chicago Bulls:&nbsp;The Chicago Bulls are desperate enough to trade for him, and they reportedly inquired about his availability. He’s not the guy they need by any means, but he could at least get them back to the playoffs.



2. Miami Heat:&nbsp;The Miami Heat have craved another star for years, and it doesn’t seem like the Portland Trail Blazers are willing to give them Damian Lillard. If Pat Riley and Heat Culture can’t fix Harden, then there’s simply nothing to do.



1. Minnesota Timberwolves:&nbsp;The Timberwolves went all-in on Rudy Gobert, so they clearly want to compete and won’t hesitate to pay up to get things done. They need a pass-first kind of guy, and have enough assets to make an appealing offer to pair him with Anthony Edwards.

NBA Rumors: Realistic destinations for James Harden

NBA Rumors: Realistic destinations for James Harden - Bolavip US

The&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-orleans-pelicans" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">New Orleans Pelicans&nbsp;</a>have been quite patient with<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/zion-williamson" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;Zion Williamson.</a>&nbsp;And few people could deny that he’s one of the&nbsp;most spectacular players to watch in the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;NBA</a>&nbsp;when he’s healthy.



But his&nbsp;health and weight&nbsp;have been major issues ever since he entered the league, and some believe it’s just a matter of time — or a good trade package — before the Pelicans give up on him.



Considering that,&nbsp;Bleacher Report’s NBA analyst Zach Buckley&nbsp;put together an interesting trade offer that would send him to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/detroit-pistons" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Detroit Pistons&nbsp;</a>for a more-than-decent return.



<h2>NBA Rumors: Pistons Could Land Zion Williamson</h2>



(via Bleacher Report)



“Detroit Pistons receive: Zion Williamson and Kira Lewis Jr.



New Orleans Pelicans receive:&nbsp;Bojan Bogdanović, James Wiseman, Killian Hayes, 2026 first-round pick (top-three protected) and 2028 first-round pick



Should Williamson finally stay healthy, after totaling just 114 appearances in his first four seasons, he could help launch Detroit up the Eastern Conference standings.&nbsp;Between Williamson and Cade Cunningham, who has hinted at a breakout in his time with the Select Team, the Pistons could have the league’s next dynamic duo.



(…)



Spacing could be a struggle, and defense would be an uncertainty,&nbsp;but no one could question the club’s talent and upside.



New Orleans, meanwhile, would have to simply want out of the Williamson business, since his trade value isn’t exactly peaking.&nbsp;Then again, if the Pels aren’t convinced his availability issues are going away, they might want to take what they can get now and avoid the risk of him becoming expensive damaged goods down the line.



For someone who has played as little as Williamson has, this is a healthy return.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/charles-barkley-has-some-harsh-words-for-zion-williamson-20230718-BUS-31018.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230718_BUS_31018_zion-williamson-2.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="NBA legend Charles Barkley addressed Zion Williamson&apos;s never-ending weight-related issues, offering him a big piece of advice.
" title="Charles Barkley has some harsh words for Zion Williamson" publication_id="BUS#20230718#BUS#31018"></div>


The Pelicans have been reluctant to&nbsp;part ways with their former first-overall pick. But truth be told, they may never find a better trade offer for him, as he comes with too much risk.

NBA Rumors: Zion Williamson could be traded to the Eastern Conference

NBA Rumors: Zion Williamson could be traded to the Eastern Conference - Bolavip US

Bob Myers’ departure meant a huge loss for the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors">Golden State Warriors</a>, but Mike Dunleavy had been preparing for this moments. He proved that early in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> offseason, trading <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/warriors-trade-jordan-poole-for-chris-paul-to-wizards-funniest-memes-and-reactions-20230622-BUS-15815.html">Jordan Poole for Chris Paul</a>.



His decision took everyone by surprise, as the young guard was once seen as the future heir apparent to Curry in the Bay area. CP3, on the other hand, was one of the Dubs’ biggest rivals in recent years.



Besides, many woner how Paul would fit in an already star-studded roster. However, Dunleavy has already said he’s confident about this move, and now he explains that the veteran guard gives them better chances to succeed than Poole.



<h2>Mike Dunleavy says Warriors are better with Paul than with Poole</h2>



“Overall I think our basketball team is in a better place right now than it was a year ago. Which by the way happened to be before that incident happened,” Dunleavy said on the Steiny &amp; Guru radio show on 95.7 The Game.



“Hate seeing Jordan go… But overall we feel like trying to win a championship with Chris Paul in the mix greatly improves our chances.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-news-stephen-curry-reveals-the-best-thing-about-having-chris-paul-at-warriors-20230817-BUS-48021.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230817_BUS_48021_chris-paul-stephen-curry.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="The Golden State Warriors shocked the NBA world by trading for Chris Paul this offseason, but Stephen Curry is excited about it.
" title="NBA News: Stephen Curry reveals the best thing about having Chris Paul at Warriors" publication_id="BUS#20230817#BUS#48021"></div>


Nothing has been the same for Poole since Draymond Green punched him. It wasn’t a pretty ending, but parting ways maybe was the best for all. Now, we’ll have to wait and see how it works out.

NBA News: Warriors GM throws shade at Jordan Poole

NBA News: Warriors GM throws shade at Jordan Poole - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Harden</a> has officially taken his feud with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Philadelphia 76ers</a> and GM Daryl Morey to a whole new level, calling him a liar and vowing he won’t play for an <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> team that makes him a part of their organization.



Most people believe that Morey promised to give him a max contract and then didn’t, making Harden lose $15 million in the process. Ironically, it was Morey the one who got him paid most of the time.



However, and regardless of Harden’s terrible play in the playoffs, injury-proneness, and questionable work ethic, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Golden State Warriors</a> star Andre Iguodala sides with him in this beef.



<h2>Andre Iguodala Shows Support For James Harden</h2>



“When you go into a contract negotiation, know what your value is and how you can leverage yourself,” Iguodala said on Gil’s Arena. “Know what opportunities you have on the other side, like to your safety net. What is James’ safety net?



“Daryl Morey has a history with China, where he can say something, and the backlash from what he says, there may not be any because there’s a history there with Morey and China,” Iguodala continued. “So, it was a great move out of leverage by James, one, because it’s gonna be hard to discipline James, because what did he do wrong? Right? And James will sell some shoes. That’s ultimately why he’s over there.”



“They always put players in a certain light, and what you’re hearing a lot now is, players, have too much power because we’re getting smarter and smarter,” Iguodala said. “Because we know how to move and we know how to say certain things, and we know how to use our leverage, because when we make mistakes, it’s used against us, correct? When they make mistakes, we’ve never put ourselves in the position to use their mistakes against them as well, and I just think he just had a perfect opportunity.”



The thing with some players is that they want to have it all, and that’s simply not realistic. Also, Harden didn’t lose $15 million, as he signed a two-year deal worth more. If anything, he made more money.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/james-harden-could-be-out-of-the-nba-soon-20230817-BUS-47907.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230817_BUS_47907_James-Harden-4.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Even though he&apos;s coming off a great season and is still a very good player, James Harden&apos;s NBA career might not last much longer.
" title="James Harden could be out of the NBA soon" publication_id="BUS#20230817#BUS#47907"></div>


Most of the time, you don’t get to choose where to play while also making dozens of million, and Harden is only stuck there because no other team would have him at that price.

NBA champion supports James Harden's criticism of Daryl Morey

NBA champion supports James Harden's criticism of Daryl Morey - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors">Golden State Warriors</a> gave a lot to talk about in the offseason. In an attempt to help <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/stephen-curry">Stephen Curry</a> win another <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> championship, Mike Dunleavy pulled off a shock by trading Jordan Poole for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/chris-paul">Chris Paul</a>.



While the veteran guard makes many fans wonder how he will fit into Steve Kerr’s plans, the reason his arrival made so much noise has to do with his previous rivalry with the Dubs.



It’s not a secret Draymond Green didn’t like CP3, whose lack of rings is also due to the Warriors, who stood in his way all these years. But this history between them is exactly why Curry loves this move so much.



<h2>Stephen Curry glad to play with Chris Paul after old rivalry</h2>



“It’s a beautiful thing about basketball, you can’t write these narratives. To go full circle, we’ve had a lot of battles over the years,” Curry said of teaming up with Paul, via ESPN. 



“He’s in Year 18, I’m going into Year 15, it’s amazing we have an opportunity to play together, and hopefully win at the highest level. He’s super competitive, and so am I.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/chris-paul-reveals-the-best-part-about-joining-the-warriors-20230817-BUS-47882.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230817_BUS_47882_Chris-Paul-2.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Crazy as it may seem, Chris Paul is actually quite excited about playing for the Golden State Warriors.
" title="Chris Paul reveals the best part about joining the Warriors" publication_id="BUS#20230817#BUS#47882"></div>


Steph is definitely glad to have another All-Star by his side and has already left their rivalry behind. Paul also looked excited about this new chapter in his career, hoping to find in the Bay area the success he couldn’t achieve elsewhere.

NBA News: Stephen Curry reveals the best thing about having Chris Paul at Warriors

Stephen Curry reveals the best thing about having Chris Paul at Warriors - Bolavip US

Latest news from NBA. Find out about all the news related to NBA on bolavip.com/en

NBA - Page 22