The Damian Lillard saga has become an annual tradition for basketball fans. While fixtures like Christmas Day and playoffs are a yearly occurrence, discussions around Dame’s future have become just as frequent. Right on time, this year offered more of the same. While the Portland Trailblazers struggled through the season and missed the playoffs, the conversations began anew. The prime target? The Miami Heat. However, after a long chase of cat-and-mouse, it seems like it was all for naught. Even though the two are a genuine match made in heaven, it seems fate still stands in the way.

In agreement with fate, however, is Miami Heat legend, Tim Hardaway.

Is Miami low on assets for Damian Lillard?

The cat’s been out of the bag for a while now. After weeks of hints from Dame and Miami’s resident superstar, Jimmy Butler, the hopes seem to be extinguished yet again. Previously, Lillard had made his Miami preference clear.

With a great deal of respect between the two stars, it was youngster Bam Adebayo that might have been the defining reason. Dame refers to Bam as?my dawg.?So, a link-up between close friends seemed easy to imagine.

However, the reality of the situation could be far less exciting. Miami has made it clear that its two stars are not available in any trade conversations. As a result, their asset pool is quite low – something that legend Tim Hardaway was quick to remind people about.

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Speaking on The Carton Show, Hardaway was dismissive of a Dame to Miami trade. ?He?s not giving up his core,? Hardaway said of Pat Riley. ?He?s not going to do that, Pat Riley. So, Miami is not going to get him because if they want these two players, and you don?t want to give ?em up, that?s too much.?

Worse for Miami fans was the news coming out of the Blazers’ camp.

Dame’s future seems set in Portland

The news came in earlier in the week. Damian Lillard with his agent would sit down with the Portland Trailblazers’ front office to discuss the future of the team and his career. However, with the constant teases between Dame and Jimmy Butler, the decision seemed all but final.

However, it seems like the Damian Lillard saga might stretch for at least another year. Blazers’ GM, Joe Cronin came out with a statement suggesting that Dame’s time in Portland wasn’t coming to an end. He stated the team’s willingness to build a meaningful contender around the rapper cum baller.

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Unless there is yet another twist in the tale, that seems to be it for the Damian Lillard saga for this season. Until next time, folks.