Portland Trail Blazers vs Miami Heat: Game preview, prediction, time, TV channel

During the summer of 2023, the Portland Trail Blazers traded superstar Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks despite his desired destination being the Miami Heat.

In part, negotiations never took place between Portland and Miami because Lillard attempted to force his way to Miami.

It will be debated for some time what package could have come Portland’s way had general manager Joe Cronin engaged with Heat president Pat Riley.

But what’s known for sure is that Miami guard Tyler Herro would have been at the center of any deal.

The Blazers had little interest in Herro because they had guards Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe, and had just drafted Scoot Henderson.

Plus, Herro was set to make $120 million over the next four seasons.

Portland went in another direction and ended up with guard Jrue Holiday a future pick and two swaps from the Bucks that could prove valuable should Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo depart, thus probably forcing them into the lottery.

However, aside from the potential of those picks, which aren’t certain to be better than Miami’s picks would have been post a Lillard-Jimmy Butler union, Herro is better than the players the Blazers got in return. He could be better than every player on the Blazers’ roster.

Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams III were acquired from Boston after the Blazers sent Holiday further east. The Blazers sent Grayson Allen, acquired from the Bucks, and center Jusuf Nurkic, forward Nassir Little and guard Keon Johnson to Phoenix for center Deandre Ayton and 2023 second-round pick Toumani Camara.

Brogdon was packaged with two first-round picks and sent to Washington for Deni Avdija on draft night 2024. Camara has become a gem defensive player. Injuries caused Williams to miss 76 games last season and 25 this season so far.

Then there is Herro, the man Rip City rebuffed on social media as if he were a scrub. Herro dealt with his share of injuries last season, appearing in just 42 games. But he averaged 20.8 points and 5.3 rebounds with 4.5 assists while shooting 44.1% from the field and 39.6% from three-point range.

Only Simons, forward Jerami Grant and Brogdon (in 39 games with Portland) put up comparable numbers.

Herro has elevated his play this season to 23.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists while shooting 46.7% from the field and 40.1% from beyond the arc. His scoring, shooting percentages, assists, and rebounds are all career highs.

Simons and Grant have seen their numbers drop. Not one player on the Blazers is averaging 20 points per game. Herro would rank second in assists behind Simons (5.1). Also, Herro’s offensive rating of 117 leads everyone on the Blazers who has played over 200 minutes this season.

So, did the Blazers blow it? Sort of. Herro would have considerably more trade value than Ayton, who is due $36 million next season. There’s no way Miami would ever consider trading Herro for Ayton, or Hendrson for that matter. Probably not for Simons. Possibly for Sharpe.

Sharpe probably has greater upside, given his elite athleticism. But Herro, 24, in year three, was much more consistent than Sharpe, 21, currently in his third season.

That said, the Blazers’ commitment to their guard trio was sound. Simons and Sharpe could form a formidable backcourt. And Sharpe could surpass Herro as an all-around player.

Plus, Camara has developed into a high-end defender, something Herro is not.

In the end, the Blazers received a solid package for Lillard. Although Herro would have more trade value than the players the Blazers received, he alone doesn’t make Portland’s decision not to seek a package around him a flat-out error.

But the Blazers would be better right now, especially if they also brought back forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. from Miami.

Clearly, Herro’s star is on the rise while the Blazers continue searching for someone who might rise to his level.

Prediction: The Heat are without suspended forward Jimmy Butler. Still, Herro and center Bam Adebayo make the Heat a tough team to defeat.

They began their six-game trip with an overtime loss at Sacramento and won at Golden State and Utah. The Heat close their trip at the LA Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers following playing Portland.

The Heat, seventh in the Eastern Conference, shouldn’t take the Blazers lightly but this is a game Miami should win.

• • •

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS. MIAMI HEAT

What: Trail Blazers (13-24) vs. Heat (19-17), 7 p.m., Saturday.

Series: First meeting. The teams will meet again on Jan. 21 in Miami.

Where: Moda Center.

Radio: Rip City Radio (KPOJ 620 AM).

TV channel: KATU (Antenna: 2.2 in Portland. Xfinity: 302 and 1170. DirecTV: 688-1. KUNP (Antenna: 47.1. Xfinity: 16, 302, 1170. DirecTV: 47. Spectrum: 184).

How to Watch: Rip City TV Network. If you don’t have cable, you can still watch this game live for FREE with the help of an HDTV antenna on your local ABC affiliate (Charge 2.2 in Portland). These antennas are very easy to install and cost around $20. You can purchase one at your local Bi-Mart or Fred Meyer, or buy one online at Walmart or from Amazon and have it shipped quickly to your home. Here are some instructions on how to set up an HDTV antenna on your television or other display. You can find out more about which channel Rip City TV Network is on in your area by using the channel finder here.

• • •

ODDS (Oregon Lottery/DraftKings)

Moneyline: POR +145 | MIA -175

Spread: POR +4 | Over/Under: 215.5

INJURIES

Blazers: Deandre Ayton (left calf soreness) is questionable. Jerami Grant (face contusion) and Matisse Thybulle (right ankle sprain) are out.

Heat: Tyler Herro (left knee contusion) is available. Josh Richardson (right heel inflammation) is questionable. Jimmy Butler (team suspension) and Dru Smith (left Achilles surgery) are out.

NEXT UP

The Blazers host the Brooklyn Nets (13-24 entering Friday) at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

— Aaron Fentress | [email protected] | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)