Before the Spurs agreed on a Kawhi Leonard trade package focused around DeMar DeRozan, they were asking for much bigger names from the Sixers, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe. (Hat tip to Dale Delgado of NBC Sports).
In his latest Lowe Post podcast, Lowe says Philadelphia turned down San Antonio offers that would have included Joel Embiid or Ben Simmons. The Sixers were reluctant to part with stars in exchange for a player who isn’t guaranteed to stay beyond this season, and Embiid and Simmons are probably untouchable in any circumstances.
Another name that popped up in rumors was Markelle Fultz, whose rookie season was cut short by a combination of injuries and problems with his shooting form. However, Lowe says the Spurs were never interested in the top pick in the 2017 draft.
“There is no evidence that the Spurs wanted Fultz,” Lowe said. “I’ve been told the Spurs never asked for Fultz, and actively didn’t want Fultz, and in fact wanted one of the two big guys.”
Sixers guard J.J. Redick, who was a guest on Lowe’s podcast, defended Fultz and claimed he was poorly treated by the media last season.
That is truly delusional!!! SMH. Cannot believe how San Antonio did even think they could get Simmons or Embiid for Kawhi, gotta be one of the most crazy things I have heard in a long time. Really funny, though not funny ha ha, but funny kind of loony. I wouldn’t have given Fultz or Dario for Kawhi neither. Very happy they didn’t get any big names, with the team they have they just need time & patience & like Paul Pierce said this week with this team they will be on the NBA finals.
Gonna be tough for them to make the finals when they lost to a Boston team that will now have Irving and Howard back, the east is the Celtics to lose. Not saying there a lock to the finals but I don’t see any team simply being better then Boston pending injuries obv.
You wouldn’t give up fultz or Saric?? Thank god you’re not a GM.
Yet they acquired DeRozen. Your basketball knowledge is nil.
Mr. cesc, A Fantasy GM cannot let it get personal or emotional. You have managed to achieve both….Well done.
Can’t blame them for trying.
cesc, where does it suggest they truly believed they could get either Embiid or Simmons? They knew that the Sixers were increasingly hungry to land a Superstar, and so they asked for a king’s ransom. I’m sure they knew they were going to be rebuffed.
You’re also crazy if you wouldn’t give up Saric or Fultz for Leonard.
Another jab at poor Demar.
fake news, no chance of pops would coach a player that doesn’t practice
It’s amazing how DeMar DeRozan gets snubbed once and again. To the point of calling a one-year-pro who just cannot make a shot from mid or long distance “a much bigger name”. Geez.
Stop it with DeRozen. Simmons is 7 years younger and finished his first ever NBA season 1.8 rebounds/gm and 1.9 assists/gm from averaging a triple double on the season. Yes, it’s about 150 of each more, but at 22 that is special. Simmons and Embiid were both ranked top 20 players in the league via SI. You shouldn’t even “ask” for one for 1 year of a malcontent, regardless of his ability.
Michael Carter Williams finished his rookie year (22) with 16.7/6.2/6.3, which was also pretty impressive. One-year success can translate into carrer success or not. You cannot compare having an outstanding rookie year (or being listed top-20 in whoever’s list) to making the All Star in 4 of the last 5 seasons and the All-NBA Team in the last 2. It’s possible to argue that Simmons has a higher ceiling than DeRozan. But calling him “a much bigger name” at the moment is going way too far, far too early.