As the 2015 NBA Trade Deadline approaches, one topic that has been often debated is the Los Angeles Clippers’ trade proposal involving Andre Iguodala, Lou Williams, and Patrick Beverley.
With the NBA trade deadline looming, the Portland Trail Blazers have found themselves in a bit of a predicament. With a chance at the playoffs gone, and a record of 27-30-9, Portland has a chance to acquire a major asset who can help them win games in the immediate future. That asset is Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard, Damian Lillard.
After the Portland Trail Blazers traded Damian Lillard to the Brooklyn Nets for the No. 27 overall pick in this summer’s draft and a future first-round pick, the question was obvious: What are the Blazers doing? Why would they trade one of their best players, a perennial All-Star, for a pick that is two spots away from the No. 1 overall pick?. Read more about damian lillard sixers trade and let us know what you think.
If the Portland Trail Blazers are serious about trading Damian Lillard, the Philadelphia 76ers should be first on their list of suitors.
Damian Lillard is more important to the 76ers than any other NBA team.
The 76ers aren’t going to win the NBA Finals with this lineup. They may wish upon a star all they want that Ben Simmons would add a new dimension to his game, but at crunch time, his job with the 76ers has become crystal clear: be a facilitator.
That’s great, except for the fact that Ben Simmons is on a $177 million deal and attempted zero shots in the fourth quarter of the 76ers’ second-round series against the Atlanta Hawks in Games 4-7.
The following is an example of a trade between the 76ers and the Trail Blazers:
- Damian Lillard has been acquired by the 76ers.
- The Trail Blazers have acquired Ben Simmons, Tyrese Maxey, a 2021 first-round selection pick, a 2023 first-round draft pick, and a 2023 second-round draft pick from the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Blazers get a head start on a potential retooling attempt with this transaction. Simmons is in charge of the rock, while Maxey is on the sidelines. Meanwhile, they gain draft capital and may keep retooling by trading CJ McCollum for a comparable haul. The Blazers couldn’t ask for more in Lillard than a proven commodity, a rising scorer, and draft money. They know precisely what they’re getting themselves into, and they’ll receive the majority of the assets right away.
So, how does Lillard help the 76ers out more than the other contenders? He’s exactly what they need. Obviously, acquiring a top-10 talent will benefit a club. The idea is that Lillard’s skill set complements Joel Embiid’s, who is in dire need of scoring assistance in the playoffs.
Embiid is a versatile player who can play both inside and outside. In doing so, he’s one of the greatest in the game, as well as one of the NBA’s top big men. The 76ers, on the other hand, can’t simply hand him the ball or go inside in the last seconds of games. They need someone who can create on the perimeter and relieve Embiid of some of his responsibilities.
Damian Lillard and Joel Embiid are a match made in heaven. For starters, Embiid is used to playing with a floor general who is often in possession of the ball (Ben Simmons). One might argue that Embiid is the greatest player with whom Lillard has ever worked. Opposing defenders would be unable to concentrate on a single player. Embiid can dominate in the post, while Lillard can defeat them from afar and off the dribble.
If one of them is double-teamed, they can either kick the ball out to Seth Curry for an open 3-pointer or hand the ball to Tobias Harris, who has a proven scoring ability.
A scoring trio of Lillard, Embiid and Harris is one with scoring, shooting and a bevy of playoff experience. Surrounded by shooters and veteran defenders, which would presumably come in free agency with players willing to take less money to play for the new-look 76ers, head coach Doc Rivers would have a dynamite offense and a well-oiled machine of a rotation.
The 76ers would gain nothing by acquiring Lillard. They still have to play the games, and neither of their two stars has ever won a round of the Conference Finals. Simultaneously, this is a league where front offices must take risks. Fortunately for the 76ers, they may have found the right brain to help them get through their present predicament.
Daryl Morey is already in his second summer as the president of basketball operations for the Philadelphia 76ers. He was the general manager of the Houston Rockets for 14 years before joining Philadelphia. During his tenure with the Rockets, Morey made a number of big deals. Trading for James Harden, Chris Paul, and Russell Westbrook is one of those moves. Morey has always been open to bringing in new players to complement the team’s current talents.
This is no different, and it’s time for the 76ers as a whole to take a risk. The NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks made a risky deal for Jrue Holiday last summer, but it was less risky than moving Simmons. In exchange for an improvement at point guard, they handed up Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, three first-round draft picks, and two pick exchanges.
Holiday, by the way, was scheduled to become a free agent this summer when the deal was completed in November (he signed a four-year extension with the Bucks in April). The Bucks won the NBA Finals because to Holiday’s contributions on both sides of the court.
The 76ers have failed to go beyond the second round of the playoffs for the last four seasons. Championship windows may shut in the flash of an eye, whether it’s due to the development of a young squad or the addition of a new star to a juggernaut.
With Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets boast the best Big Three in the NBA. Milwaukee’s core is in its prime, having just won the NBA title. The Hawks are gaining ground. One might say that the New York Knicks have made a comeback after a promising summer. It’s also realistic to anticipate bounce-back seasons from clubs like the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and Indiana Pacers.
The Eastern Conference is competitive in any case, and the Philadelphia 76ers are racing against the clock.
Because Damian Lillard is Damian Lillard, there are plenty of teams that make sense for a Damian Lillard trade. The Knicks would get a clear-cut superstar in the form of the All-Star point guard. Boston may take a chance and trade Jaylen Brown and other players for Lillard. A triumvirate of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Damian Lillard wouldn’t be bad. It wouldn’t hurt to have Damian Lillard and Luka Doncic on the same squad, either.
The Philadelphia 76ers, on the other hand, are the club that needs Lillard the most. They have the potential to win an NBA title, but they keep running into problems in the playoffs. Damian Lillard provides the greatest opportunity for them to get through that barrier.
The Portland Trail Blazers’ star point guard, Damian Lillard, has reportedly grown frustrated with the front office, and recently requested a trade. The Blazers have several issues that are hindering their ability to move up in the standings, but trade partners are reportedly plentiful, and Philadelphia may be able to make some sense of the mess.. Read more about damian lillard stats and let us know what you think.
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