CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 04: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at United Center on February 04, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

There’s reportedly a new front-runner to land Portland Trail Blazers’ All-Star Damian Lillard, and it’s not a team you would expect.

The Miami Heat have long been regarded as the favorites to land the future Hall of Famer. But according to a report from ESPN’s Marc J. Spears, the new “front-runners” are a different Eastern Conference club in the Toronto

“The Toronto Raptors enter the week as the front-runners to trade for Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard, two high-ranking NBA team executives told ESPN’s Andscape.

While the Raptors have had recent conversations with the Blazers about Lillard, no pact was close to being imminent as of Monday morning, according to a source…

The two NBA executives said that they expect Lillard to be traded before media day, which is Oct. 2 for most teams including the Blazers, Heat and Raptors. Practices begin the next day.”

As Spears noted, the Raptors have several enticing assets to offer Portland in a potential trade for Lillard. This includes All-Star Pascal Siakam, rising young star Scottie Barnes, defensive stalwart O.G. Anunoby and rookie Gradey Dick.

Regarding the latter, Spears wrote, “The Blazers are intrigued about adding a young 6-foot-8 sharpshooter in Dick, a source said.”

The last time the Raptors traded for a perennial All-Star and future Hall of Famer, it worked out perfectly. Five summers ago, the Raptors acquired disgruntled star Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs. Less than a year later, the Raptors were celebrating the franchise’s first NBA championship.

Toronto hasn’t won a playoff series in three consecutive years now, missing out on the postseason in two of the last three years. The Chicago Bulls eliminated them in the 9 vs. 10 play-in game last season

It’s obvious that the Raptors need a bonafide superrstar to re-emerge as a contender in the Eastern Conference. And a player like Lillard would certainly bring them back into contention.