76ers Rumors: ‘Goal Is Less to Trade Ben Simmons and More to Acquire Damian Lillard’ | Bleacher Report

AP Picture/John Locher

The Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly hoping to accumulate Damian Lillard this offseason whereas they store fellow All-Star Ben Simmons, in accordance with Derek Bodner of The Athletic.

“From the Sixers’ perspective, it will be honest to say the objective is much less to commerce Ben Simmons and extra to accumulate Damian Lillard,” Bodner wrote.

The workforce’s president of basketball operations Daryl Morey hoped to accumulate James Harden final season, however he now reportedly has his eyes on Lillard as he tries to carry one other star to the group.

Simmons has been used because the workforce’s greatest commerce bait because the season ended and the guard has reportedly “lower off communication with principally everybody within the Sixers group,” per Jason Dumas of KRON4 Information.

The problem has been for different groups to match a lofty asking value from the 76ers. David Aldridge of The Athletic reported Philadelphia was looking for a minimum of 4 future first-round picks plus an All-Star-level participant. 

It may very well be an try to boost the worth for Simmons earlier than ultimately figuring out a deal for Lillard.

There was loads of hypothesis in regards to the guard leaving Portland after 9 years with the workforce, though NBA author Marc Stein not too long ago reported “neither Portland nor Lillard is able to entertain commerce potentialities.”

This might nonetheless change with Lillard set to return from the Tokyo Olympics.

Portland enters subsequent season with a brand new coach in Chauncey Billups and will look to rebuild after dropping within the first spherical of the playoffs in 4 of the final 5 years.

Philadelphia, in the meantime, probably has its eyes on a title after ending with the perfect report within the Japanese Convention final season. Pairing Lillard with Joel Embiid would give the squad two elite gamers who may match properly as an inside-outside tandem.

The 76ers must add extra than simply Simmons to carry again Lillard, however it may very well be price it to place the workforce nearer to a championship.