Shots fired from Paul Pierce.
The Miami Heat are emerging as the frontrunners for a potential Damian Lillard trade this offseason, with both sides expressing interest in making a deal.
While many believe that Miami is the ideal destination for Lillard, former NBA player Paul Pierce has a different perspective.
During a recent episode of What’s Burnin’ with Rachel Nichols on Showtime Basketball, NBA legend Tracy McGrady voiced his support for the idea of Lillard joining forces with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, citing their compatibility.
However, Pierce made a controversial statement, claiming that the Heat would not advance past the first round of the playoffs if they were to acquire Lillard.
“You put them together, they won’t make it out the first round [of the playoffs],” Pierce said.
.@Tmac_213 and @paulpierce34 debate how far Miami can go if they get Damian Lillard. ?
Watch our live show from @bluewirepods on YouTube NOW: https://t.co/XVCZVrUGNh pic.twitter.com/hl1MVPqgJw
— SHOWTIME Basketball (@shobasketball) July 13, 2023
His reasoning was that Miami’s success in the NBA Finals last month was largely due to the team’s depth, and trading for Lillard would inevitably result in losing valuable contributors who played significant roles in crucial games.
Disagreeing with Pierce, McGrady and Nichols argued that the addition of Lillard would propel the Heat to go further than the first round next season.
Meanwhile, the latest reports suggest that the Heat are currently at a standstill, keeping two vacant roster spots while they navigate the negotiations, which has been a challenging process for the team.
For all the latest breaking in sports entertainment news, be sure to follow TMSPN.com on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
