The Philadelphia 76ers have bigger things on their mind at the moment as they prepare for an important playoff run in 2023. However, one has to wonder about the plans for the offseason.
The Sixers head into the offseason with a big question to answer regardless of how deep they go into the postseason: the status of James Harden. The Beard has a player option for the 2023-24 season, and one has to anticipate he will opt out either to re-up with the Sixers or to go elsewhere.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard could become available to acquire from the Pacific Northwest after the Blazers had a very tough season. Per ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith on “First Take”:
I gotta tell you, for me, I would go the route of Philadelphia. I will say this but I just want to get a little personal here for a second. I’ve known Damian Lillard for years, and, obviously, I love him to death. That’s one of my boys. I will acknowledge on national television, I have begged Damian Lillard for years to come to the New York Knicks. I’m not gonna lie. Like please come to New York. Please! His loyalty to the City of Portland has been unwavering and unshakable. This is the closest that I’ve ever heard him sound to be anything different. He’s been steadfast about being a Blazer his entire career. He loves that city. He loves representing Rip City, it’s just that now you look at the kind of season that they’ve had, I personally think that Chauncey Billups is an executive as opposed to a head coach. I think there’s a different direction they need to move in.
Smith then added that the Sixers should consider letting Harden go to make a move for Lillard:
James Harden is playing outstanding. James Harden is a future Hall of Famer. I got a lot of love and respect for James Harden. I would take Damian Lillard over James Harden in a heartbeat. I wouldn’t think twice. If I was Philly and I could get my hands on Damian Lillard and I had to forfeit James Harden. I’m not talking about trading him. I’m just saying if James Harden walked out the door, so be it because that’s how much I — no shade on James Harden. That’s what I think about Damian Lillard.
Lillard is under contract with the Blazers through the 2026-27 season and that is the issue. The Sixers are going to have to trade for him regardless of Harden’s free agent status. They will likely have to give Tyrese Maxey to the Blazers to facilitate that deal, so it will be interesting to see if that would ever materialize.
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