The Miami Heat’s best-case scenario appears to have replaced the proposal that could have made them the front-runners in the Eastern Conference under Erik Spoelstra.

After Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers requested a trade to the Heat, the Blazers executed the second of two Lillard-related moves on Sunday, strengthening the Heat’s prime East rivals instead of acquiring Lillard.

On Sunday, the Blazers came to an agreement to trade Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics, only days after they traded Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. Holiday was part of the Lillard trade that saw the Blazers acquire him from the Bucks.

A week ago, the Heat seemed to be the favorites to start Lillard, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo in a lineup this next season, increasing their chances of making it to the NBA Finals three times in five years.

Rather than grant Lillard’s request for a trade to the Heat, Blazers general manager Joe Cronin sent Lillard to the Bucks, who then traded him to the Celtics on Sunday.

The Blazers maxed out by acquiring Suns center Deandre Ayton, Suns 2022 second-round pick Toumani Camara, Celtics center Robert Williams, Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon, Golden State Warriors 2024 first-round pick (top-four protected), the Celtics’ 2029 first-round pick, the Bucks’ 2030 first-round pick, and the opportunity to trade first-round picks with the Bucks in 2028 and ’30. For months, it was believed that the Heat would offer the best deal for Lillard. The Blazers might decide to trade Brogdon for additional cash in the future.

Featuring guard Tyler Herro and at least two first-round choices, the Heat offered Lillard a package that included them. In addition, the Heat were able to recruit players like Caleb Martin, Haywood Highsmith, Nikola Jovic, and Jaime Jaquez Jr., as well as two selection exchanges.

The Heat’s offer for Lillard probably wouldn’t have been as good as what the Blazers received (moves that also saw Portland trade Nassir Little and Keon Johnson to Phoenix).

Both Boston and Milwaukee suffered losses as a result of their transactions with Portland, even if they also made them stronger. Holiday and guard Grayson Allen, who was traded to the Suns as part of the Lillard three-way trade, are no longer with Milwaukee. Brogdon and Williams had to go from Boston.

Even though the Heat beat the Bucks in the opening round of the playoffs the previous season and the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, both of those clubs have made substantial off-season additions.

Milwaukee is currently set up with Brook Lopez, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Khris Middleton, and Lillard in the starting lineup. Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Holiday may now start for Boston after Porzingis was acquired earlier in the offseason in a trade with the Washington Wizards.

Last season, the Bucks won the East with a record of 58-24, followed by the Celtics with a record of 57-25. After finishing 44-38 and seventh in the East, the Heat advanced as the No. 8 seed through the play-in round to the NBA Finals.

The Heat have a media day on Monday at Kaseya Center. On Tuesday, they begin training camp at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.