[Saba Sports News] The Miami Heat, long believed to be Damian Lillard’s sole desired trade destination, unexpectedly lost out on acquiring the seven-time All-Star guard. Lillard was sent to the Milwaukee Bucks in a complex multi-team trade, leading to a wave of memes ridiculing Pat Riley and the Heat for failing to secure yet another superstar acquisition.
Many users on social media platforms joined forces to criticize Riley, suggesting he was either hesitant, complacent, or past his prime as an executive. Some of the most notable posts are highlighted below.
This incident adds to a concerning pattern of the Miami Heat missing out on superstar talents who expressed interest in joining their team. Despite securing a meeting with Kevin Durant in 2016 and being linked to him in a trade scenario with the Brooklyn Nets in 2022, they failed to acquire him on both occasions.
They were actively pursuing Donovan Mitchell last summer, even listed as one of his preferred destinations, but ultimately lost him to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the early months of the past summer, Miami appeared to be a finalist for Bradley Beal, only to be outmaneuvered by the Phoenix Suns.
Ironically, they had a golden opportunity with Lillard, who explicitly stated his desire to join the Heat, yet allowed him to slip away to an Eastern Conference rival in the Bucks.
It’s worth noting that the Heat’s inability to secure Lillard may not entirely be their fault, as the Portland Trail Blazers appeared uninterested in engaging in serious discussions with them. Even the one superstar Miami did acquire in the last five years, Jimmy Butler, doesn’t seem pleased with how the Lillard situation unfolded.