Damian Lillard communicated to the Portland Trail Blazers that he was willing to be patient and let the season play out if it meant he could eventually be traded to the Miami Heat.

Lillard has been working out at the Blazers' practice facility over the past two weeks, interacting with players and coaches.

Joe Cronin expressed skepticism about Lillard beginning training camp with the Blazers and it became clear they would try to resolve the trade situation before media day on Oct. 2.

Lillard believed his loyalty to the Blazers since he was drafted in 2012 meant they would accommodate him with his trade request to the Heat. Lillard wanted the Blazers to try to find a workable deal with the Heat and that wish went unfulfilled. 

Lillard's camp had a realization that he would need to begin to seriously consider the possibility of playing somewhere other than Miami.

Cronin stopped responding to all communication from Lillard's agent, Aaron Goodwin, in mid-September as tension increased between both sides.

Once Lillard was convinced a trade to the Heat was virtually impossible, sources say he came open to the prospect of playing for the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. The Toronto Raptors had serious interest in trading for Lillard, but his resistance to playing for that franchise remained an obstacle. 

The Brooklyn Nets will have Ben Simmons on the court when training camp starts next week. Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn said that Simmons is 100% for the start of camp and that the versatile guard/forward will do 5-on-5 work from the jump.

Simmons has appeared in 42 games for Brooklyn, since the team acquired him at the 2022 NBA trade deadline. Simmons missed the last 24 games of the regular season and the playoffs for the Nets last season, due to a back injury.

Simmons recently said his back is in a better place than it has been in years. He also said he expects to play point guard for the Nets this upcoming season.

If the Miami Heat eventually agree to a Damian Lillard trade with the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell Jake Fischer that there are a number of possible teams who could be on the receiving end of Tyler Herro.

The Utah Jazz, Chicago Buls, Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets are considered the teams interested in Herro.

Herro is entering Year 1 of a four-year, $130 million extension with the Heat.

Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux) and Arturo Galletti (@AmericanNumbers) continue their annual tradition of breaking down the over/under lines for the Eastern Conference.

They go through over/unders and other relevant odds for the Pistons (3:44), Hornets (12:01), Wizards (18:11), Magic (24:18), Pacers (28:25), Raptors (33:12), Bulls (37:45), Hawks (43:30), Nets (47:27), Heat (54:01), Cavaliers (58:47), Bucks (1:03:18), Knicks (1:11:21), 76ers (1:19:55) and Celtics (1:29:08).

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The Brooklyn Nets signed Jordan Hall and Keifer Sykes, the team announced on Wednesday.

Both player are expected to join the G League's Long Island Nets for the upcoming season.

Ben Simmons is at the tail-end of what many experts said would be an 18-month recovery from back surgery. Simmons is expected to be 100% by November. When he is, the Brooklyn Nets versatile player expects to be the team's lead guard again. Simmons said he's gotten assurances from Nets coach Jacque Vaughn that he'll be running the offense again too.

“That’s what I know. As much as people would try to put me (at power forward). Everyone’s a GM in their head. I’m a point guard,” Simmons said. “So, I think with the team we have I think it’s constructed well for us to have a good run.

“Get ready for a great year. I think it’s going to be exciting. We’re going to have a lot of fun and get back to Brooklyn basketball.”

Simmons also knows he's disappointed some people over the last few years. He's not making any excuses though, as he owns it's on him to win people over again.

“I’d say (the hardest part was) not be able to do your job to the fullest. I never have excuses, I never tried to say anything about different things going on. But I was dealing with an injury at the time, so I did what I could in the moment,” Simmons said. “And I owe it to everybody, the fans and everybody, to get back to where I need to be. That’s what I did this summer to get back.”

Harry Giles III's one-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets is non-guaranteed, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Giles, who last played in the NBA during the 2020-21 season, will compete for a roster spot. 

Harry Giles III and the Brooklyn Nets have agreed to a one-year deal.

Giles last played in the NBA during the 20-21 season with the Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 2.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 9.2 minutes over 38 games.

Ben Simmons believes he will have a bounce back season after missing the entire 21-22 season and only playing in 42 games last season. 

“I’m excited because I know I can do it,” Simmons told Marc J. Spears of ESPN Andscape on Aug. 25. “So, that’s the exciting part for me. [Last Thursday] night, I’m like, ‘Yo, let’s get back in the gym.’ I’m excited. I get to do something I love to do at a high level. Regardless of what people say, I’m a three-time All-Star, All-NBA player, [All-] Defensive Team. I’ve done things. I’m not somebody that hasn’t done anything.

“But at the end of the day, that’s what you want to do. You want to go out and compete against the best in the world and be one of the best.”

Simmons has been working out five days a week for at least five hours per day to get his body ready. 

“For me to come back and dominate people will be great,” Simmons said. “I don’t intend to come back the same player I was last [season], because that’s not even close to where I am. I get excited because I’m like, ‘Damn, I would [expletive] on the player I was last year.’ But I know where I was at last year, so it’s easy to say that. But it’s just fun to go and do the thing that you love when you’re out there. That’s really it for me. I don’t really ask for too much.

“Sometimes I think about [my recent struggles]. I’m like, ‘Damn, that’s a lot.’ Sometimes I sit down and break it down. ‘That was exhausting that I was having to deal with all that.’ But I feel like there are different situations you can handle, and this is a good test for me. How much worse can it get?”

Spencer Dinwiddie will be eligible for a four-year, $128 million extension with the Brooklyn Nets starting on Monday.

Dinwiddie is currently in the final year of his contract which will carry a $20.36 million cap hit.

The 30-year-old averaged 16.5 points and 9.1 assists after getting traded to the Nets last season.