Philadelphia 76ers Planning To Pair Damian Lillard With Joel Embiid?
With fewer than two weeks before the start of training camp, the Damian Lillard story is heating up. Despite Lillard’s wish to go to South Beach, the Portland Trail Blazers have allegedly begun discussions with clubs other than the Miami Heat. The Blazers’ front staff has been in contact with Joel Embiid’s Philadelphia 76ers, according to an NBA insider.
Philadelphia 76ers Planning To Pair Damian Lillard With Joel Embiid?
According to Sixers source Kyle Neubeck, the Sixers have talked about Lillard with the Blazers at “different points” this summer. On the ‘PHLY Sixers Podcast,’ Neubeck further emphasized that the Sixers might not have the package to get Blazers superstar:
“There was some smoke out there today regarding Dame to the Sixers,” Neubeck said. “And that maybe the Sixers’ involvement in this process has been underplayed. I wouldn’t go quite that far yet. Here’s what I can tell you that I know for sure that the Sixers have certainly talked to the Blazers about Dame at different points throughout this offseason.”
If Damian Lillard is traded to Heat by next week, we will send one person who likes this tweet $1000. Must be following pic.twitter.com/QWVZOx1lWW
— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) September 17, 2023
“Talking to someone and saying, ‘Hey, we would like Dame Lillard on our basketball team’ is not ‘We’re putting together a credible trade package for Dame Lillard.'”
Lillard has been the most sought-after trade target this summer, but the Blazers have yet to get an acceptable offer and may begin training camp with Lillard still on the roster next month.
https://twitter.com/KillHimJoziah/status/1705033956129734726
Blazers general manager Joe Cronin indicated in June that Lillard had sought a trade, but he did not promise a deal would be done and stated that the front office will do what is best for the team as a whole.
According to Marc J. Spears of ESPN Andscape, Lillard’s favoured landing location is the Miami Heat.
"I think the Trail Blazers feel like they're getting bullied into the trade… Damian Lillard has given everything to this franchise… You owe him his preferred destination."
Jason Timpf calls out the Blazers 👀
(via @TheVolumeSports)pic.twitter.com/knVD9DHijC
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 20, 2023
Lillard allegedly requested a trade because he did not believe the Blazers had done enough in free agency and on the trade market to place themselves in playoff and championship contention.
ITS HAPPENING Damian Lillard to MIAMI!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/0PTtKWzz9d
— el¡ (@3li3z3) September 17, 2023
The Philadelphia 76ers may not have the most tempting assets to make a Damian Lillard deal happen. They also have a trade conundrum with James Harden, who asked to be traded this offseason. They may need to dump Harden first before having a chance to sign Lillard.
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