With Damian Lillard heading home from the Olympics, the most important part of the Sixers‘ offseason is getting under way, writes Derek Bodner of The Athletic. President of basketball operations Daryl Morey is hoping Lillard makes his long-rumored trade request to the Trail Blazers, and Bodner believes Philadelphia is in a good position if that happens.
Lillard held a press conference last month to deny a report that a trade request was imminent. However, he has expressed an urgency to Portland’s management about the need to improve the roster, and the Blazers’ most significant additions so far have been the free agent signings of Tony Snell, Cody Zeller, and Ben McLemore.
Bodner adds that two potential competitors for Lillard are less of a threat than they were a few weeks ago. The Knicks used their cap space without acquiring another star player, while the Heat added Kyle Lowry and are now facing a hard cap for the upcoming season. It would be virtually impossible for Miami to match Lillard’s $43.75MM salary in a trade anytime soon, according to Bodner.
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- The Sixers will receive a financial benefit now that George Hill has signed with the Bucks, tweets Bobby Marks of ESPN. Hill, who was waived by Philadelphia on Tuesday, received a two-year, $8MM contract in Milwaukee. The Sixers will get a $1.255MM set-off on the money they still owed Hill, which will take effect after the 2021/22 season.
- Rookie small forward Aaron Henry was more comfortable finding a team in free agency than he would have been as a late-round draft pick, per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Henry agreed to a two-way contract with the Sixers shortly after the draft ended and is ready to prove himself in Summer League. A quadriceps strain forced him to be held out of the combine in Chicago, but he worked out for 12 teams in 19 days. One of those sessions was with the Sixers, who liked what they saw. “Since we got him, you can see his versatility,” said assistant Brian Adams, who’s handling head coaching duties for the Summer League team. “He can defend multiple positions. He can defend one-on-one and in the schemes we have. He’s picked up everything really fast.”
- Sixers first-round pick Jaden Springer hopes to succeed with the same franchise that drafted his father in 1984, Pompey adds in a separate story. A knee injury prevented Gary Springer from playing in the NBA, but he believes his son has a bright future.
The George hill contract probably would have been useful for salary matching purposes should sixers be lucky enough to get to talk dame trade ! Can’t imagine blazers would want to take the Tobias Harris albatross contract
They have nothing worth trading for Lillard, except of course Joel Embiid.
Agreed. Especially now that Ben has publicly stated he sees Portland as a “bad situation” and “won’t go there”. That should definitely give Portland pause in seeking Ben as a main trade piece coming back for Dame. Ben would sulk, and bolt first chance be gets if he showed up at all. And the on court production doesn’t justify the headache it would be. Trade Dame elsewhere if you must trade him.
I agree with one thing: Simmons value is overrated.
But You can easily do 3-way deal
Blazers get Wiggins, Moody, Maxey, Warriors 2022 First and 76ers two Firsts
Warriors get Simmons
76ers get Lillard
Basically Blazers get 5 Firsts
Salary filler if needed
Do you have a link to: “Ben” has publicly stated he sees Portland as a bad situation.?
I have not seen anything more than media speculation…but am interested in your link to Ben saying these words.
You obviously don’t know much about talent then
i could see Sixers getting CJ instead for Simmons
Your sixers have a better chance then your clippers of getting dame ! Clippers can’t put a offer to the blazers that wouldn’t be laughably bad for a team that would be rebuilding! Sixers might be able to use warriors to get dame by offering them Simmons and warriors giving blazers useful rebuilding tools to get dame out of the west !
I’d guess
There are irreconcilable differences between 76ers and Ben Simmons, so they are going to Divorce
It’s just a matter of how little the Sixers are willing to accept to trade him.
Competitors, a threat? I hope the Knicks are no longer that wrt Lillard. It’s hard to imagine this FO would really get involved as though he’s the last piece needed to make them a championship team. Because if they trade for him, he’ll certainly be the last quality piece they add for the balance of his contract.
When Morey is forced to trade Simmons-Wiggins 1-1 straight up after he asked for the entire GSW franchise for him, I am going to spend the rest of the offseason laughing my butt off.
So, you’re saying you want him but only at a bargain price? You’re trashing Simmons in the hopes both GMs read this?
You’re trashing a regular comment on a random basketball website hoping it gives you extra clout? No front office is reading this and lining up to offer you a job
I mean Simmons is better than Wiggins. GS isn’t getting that done without giving up at least one future first and/or one of their young players. Since Ben still has plenty of contract left, Philly is not in any dire situation to get something for Ben before he walks. If Ben chose to not play for whatever reason, then he wouldn’t get paid either.
I don’t know if the Heat were ever a threat and the Knicks’ “threat level” is probably more tied to their team performance than cap space.
NYK never had the best asset package and still doesn’t. The hope is Lillard requests to play in NY for Thibs and Olshey acquiesces.
Is it a perfect plan? Hardly. But at some point you need a top 15 player. With all due respect to Randle, we don’t have that.
In theory Lillard’s game has 3-4 more prime years. We just saw Curry put up an MVP season at 33, no reason why Dame’s game will age much differently.
I think Toronto could offer a competitive package for Dame centered around Fred VanVleet and multiple firsts.
Trade probably only happens as a 3-team deal or a 4-team. Simmons isn’t making his way to LAL, LAC, or Miami. So where does he think he’s ending up?
Minnesota is the prime candidate for a proxy. Indiana could also serve as one. Portland had done zilch this off-season. Dame knows that, they are actually worse than last year if you’re being honest.
Trading Nurkic, RoCo, Dame, CJ – going into full rebuild/partial mode.
If they did a deal w Minn, you’d get Beasley and other pieces and picks and they deal everyone else and probably become a conduit for salary dumps ala Okc.
If they did a deal with Indiana, it’s Brogdon and probably Warren – that would be less of a full rebuild and maybe they keep everyone but Dame.
I am slightly concerned with Dame’s injury. Would need to know more obv before pulling the trigger.
If there is an offset for Hill’s dead cap AFTER the 2021/22 season then how much of the 1.28 million dead space will Philly be on the hook for this season?
His cap hit for Philadelphia will remain unchanged during the season.
We need need to trade McCollum first!
Would porzingis be too much to ask?
Not at all, in fact the Mavs would likely have to throw in extra assets to get that deal done. Kristaps contract is an ALBATROSS, along with his play on the court. Basically Danny Green without the podcast.
If CJ were to net a premium return he’d have been dealt already. Just saying… 1 for 1 is probably fair value. And if they are keeping Dame, it balances their roster a bit.
Dame
Powell
RoCo
KP
Nurkic
I don’t see a clear fit with the Mavs tho they have Brunson, Bullock, and Burke. Another move would need to be made like dealing Brunson.
Ingram for Simmons. Flip Harris anywhere for a starting PG. I like Maxey, but he’s a year maybe more removed before starting daily. Sexton and Love for Harris? Actually start to build the team around Jo.