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The Philadelphia 76ers are hoping to acquire Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard this offseason as they look to trade All-Star Ben Simmons, according to a report from Derek Bodner of The Athletic.
Bodner’s report goes on to say that the 76ers are more intent on acquiring Lillard than they are on trading Simmons.
“From the Sixers’ point of view, it would be fair to say that the goal is less to trade Ben Simmons and more to acquire Damian Lillard,” Bodner wrote in the story.
Sixers general manager Daryl Morey was not afraid of hitting a home run during his short tenure with the franchise. Morey focused on monitoring James Harden’s situation in Houston last season. He does the same with Lillard’s.
Simmons, 25, was embroiled in business rumors after a disastrous playoff appearance for Philadelphia.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported earlier this offseason that if the Sixers wanted a Blazers player it would be Lillard, not CJ McCollum, who has also been the subject of trade rumors all summer.
The problem the Sixers face in seeking to trade Simmons is their asking price. Athletic’s David Aldridge reported that the 76ers are looking for at least four future first-round picks plus an All-Star level player. That’s a steep price that not all teams can achieve.
There has been constant speculation about Lillard’s future in Portland after the Blazers were once again eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Lillard said this summer he had no plans to demand a trade from the Blazers, but stopped before making a full commitment to stay in Portland for the long term. He also said he would like the team to be more urgent in improving their roster.
The Blazers have been silent so far in the offseason, but that could change further with Lillard’s return from the Tokyo Olympics.
Lillard, 31, is under contract with the Trail Blazers until 2025, with a player option in his senior year.
– Aron Yohannes
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