The Philadelphia 76ers are in a position where they need to put a big piece next to superstar Joel Embiid in order to properly contend in the Eastern Conference. Sitting at 13-11 after COVID and injuries derailed their hot start, they need to make a move to help Embiid win a title sooner rather than later.
With Ben Simmons still sidelined amid his mental health issues combined with the fact that he still wants to be traded, the Sixers could make a move soon. There are a couple of teams–the Portland Trail Blazers being the biggest one–that seem ready to hit the reset button on their rosters. Especially after the Blazers fired GM Neil Olshey which could have Sixers implications.
The Blazers and the Sixers have been linked for a while due to the Simmons situation as well as Portland star Damian Lillard expressing frustration over the summer. While Lillard remains loyal to the Blazers, there is some thought that the star might be reaching his breaking point with the organization and might request a trade soon.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Sixers are one of three teams who are waiting for Lillard to make that request–the New York Knicks are another team. Lillard’s camp is growing frustrated as they even wanted Simmons in Portland over the summer.
Per Wojnarowski amid the Dame drama:
In the past year, Lillard and his camp have been thwarted on leverage plays — Jason Kidd as coach, trading CJ McCollum and four first-round picks for Ben Simmons. Most of all, they lost the confidence that the Blazers had a top basketball executive and ownership willing to give Lillard the highest single-season pay in league history at $55.3 million in 2027.
Three teams with interest in Lillard told ESPN that they are waiting on him to make an offseason trade demand before calling Portland. If Lillard asks out, they know the Blazers will lose some leverage in the asking price — and are waiting on it. Philadelphia made an offer, but New York never did, league sources said. Lillard’s reps offered mixed messages on the star’s intentions to stay or go, and rival teams say that the star’s camp had real concerns about Olshey’s willingness to recommend the extension to ownership in 2022.
Lillard has expressed that he wants Simmons to join him in the Pacific Northwest, but that means Philadelphia would have to focus on C.J. McCollum who is a good player, but he is not Lillard. The Sixers are not interested in a McCollum deal and this is going to be a situation that will continue to develop as time goes on.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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