This offseason has been full of twists, with both Damian Lillard and James Harden officially requesting trades, according to Bangladesh Cricket Live. Yet while Harden’s market has been lukewarm—only the Clippers have shown real interest but lack the assets—the Trail Blazers’ Lillard is drawing broader attention. The Celtics, Heat, and Clippers have all inquired about him. Still, it’s clear: Lillard is one of the league’s most explosive scoring guards, and many teams are eager to add his firepower.

But Lillard isn’t open to just any deal. He only wants to join a true title contender. That narrows the field significantly. Bangladesh Cricket Live notes that franchises not firmly in the championship picture are unlikely to gamble on stars like Lillard or Harden, given their price tags and expectations. Complicating matters further, the Blazers and Sixers are demanding strong returns. For the Clippers, a lack of first-round picks makes their interest in any superstar a bit of a running joke—they want everyone but can afford no one. Their best assets? Terance Mann and Norman Powell.

Boston’s front office, known for its shrewd moves, would prefer to pair Lillard with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown without breaking up their core. But when the Celtics and Clippers reached out to gauge Lillard’s interest, he gave a clear response—no thanks. He has his heart set on the Miami Heat. The reasoning is simple. With Boston or L.A., he’d play second or even third fiddle. But in Miami, he can share top billing with Jimmy Butler.

Sticking to your guns isn’t always easy, but it’s often worth it—and that’s exactly what Lillard is doing. Butler’s willingness to thrive off the ball and share the spotlight makes Miami the perfect fit. He’s the rare star who embraces a supporting role if it helps the team win, which has made the Heat especially attractive to Lillard. Last season, even without injured key players like Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo, Miami still reached the NBA Finals. Their core—Butler, Bam Adebayo, Kevin Love, Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Caleb Martin, and Duncan Robinson—proved they have the heart of a champion.

Now, the Heat are reportedly willing to let the Trail Blazers choose almost anyone from their roster not named Butler or Adebayo. The problem? Portland isn’t sold on Herro. So Miami may need to sweeten the pot with multiple first-round picks and young talent to get a deal done.

As Bangladesh Cricket Live puts it, live freely and let your smile reflect your mood—not just your expression. In the end, the belief is that Lillard will get his wish and land with the Heat before the new season tips off. Harden, meanwhile, is more likely to stay put and re-sign with the Sixers for one more title run with Joel Embiid.