Upstart Timberwolves, without Butler, visit Cavaliers

The Portland Trail Blazers have ramped up their efforts to find a trade of Damian Lillard this week as training camp approaches. While they are reportedly motivated to find a resolution of the Lillard trade request, they reportedly haven’t engaged with his preferred destination of the Miami Heat.

“Those talks have intensified this week with Damian Lillard, but there is no trade imminent,” said Adrian Wojnarowski. “We talked about this throughout that the summer that this would pick up once we got past Labor Day and the opening of training camp loomed. That’s exactly what has happened.

“You have Portland trying to not only talk to teams who have an interest in Lillard, but lots of teams who would like to get in on a bigger deal. Can they pick up a couple draft picks to take on some money? Is there a need that they have that they can get in a three- or four-team trade.

“Portland is exhausting all of those conversations this week. They’re certainly behaving like a team that wants to get a deal done, is trying to get a deal done before camp.

“So far the one element that has not been part of these talks is the Miami Heat, but we know in trade talks and conversations, that can change in one moment with one call.”