Damian Lillard stands out as the 2023 NBA’s offseason sensation. The sharpshooter left the entire basketball world astounded with an unexpected trade demand from the Portland Trail Blazers during free agency. Following several months of unfulfilling pursuits, he ultimately found his coveted destination with the Milwaukee Bucks. Much like his demand for an exit, his trade sent shockwaves through the NBA, leaving fans and analysts in disbelief.

However, given the unfoldings in initial weeks, it appeared that Lillard might join forces with Jimmy Butler in Miami. Afterall, after two recent championship near-misses, Lillard was perceived as the missing piece for Miami. Regardless, the course of events took an entirely different turn. Nevertheless, in a captivating exchange, Stephen A. Smith briefly delves into the intriguing notion of parallel possibilities.

Smith believes Damian Lillard to be a better player than Jimmy Butler

The Miami Heat are facing Boston Celtics in a much-anticipated rematch of last year’s NBA Finals. Prior to the game, a spirited debate unfolded between Stephen A. Smith and Mike Wilbon; centered around the merits of Butler and Lillard. Smith staunchly championed Lillard’s cause, while Wilbon firmly sided with Butler.

In a bid to reinforce his argument, Smith introduced a captivating hypothetical scenario.

He provocatively asked, “Had he [Lillard] got traded to Miami, who would be the number one option?”

Wilbon, taken aback by the unexpected question, responded, “that depends.”

In the midst of the debate, Wilbon brought up the iconic ‘Playoffs Jimmy’. He argued that Smith would prioritize Playoffs Jimmy over Damian Lillard in the post-season setting. However, Smith stood firm in his assertion that Lillard reigns supreme.

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The Miami Heat initially recognized Damian Lillard’s eagerness to join their ranks, setting the wheels in motion for discussions. Despite numerous talks with the franchise, a mutually agreeable deal proved elusive.

Was Lillard’s trade to Miami never going to happen?

The linchpin of this negotiation appeared to be Tyler Herro. However, with Lillard now aligning himself with the Milwaukee Bucks, a new narrative has emerged.

Heat’s president, Pat Riley, recently made it clear that they had never actively looked to trade Herro, expressing no inclination to part with him. Furthermore, Riley emphasized that when contemplating the acquisition of a top-tier player in the league, every option within the team can be on the table for discussion.

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The stance can be viewed with mixed opinions. Some believe it to be the truth, while others speculate that the Heat are in damage-control mode, particularly concerning Tyler Herro relationship with the franchise. Nevertheless, Riley’s statements appear credible, as there’s a distinction between actively shopping a player and discussing the addition of a superstar-caliber talent.

However, this sheds light on the question that, with Herro out of the deal, was there ever a chance of Lillard going to Miami?