For the Philadelphia 76ers, a dream trade would be to acquire Damian Lillard. The Portland Trail Blazers point guard is one of the best young players in the league and it’s no secret that he’s unhappy with his current situation. There are three potential deals for Lillard including two trades and an offer from free agency which could cost Sixers upwards of $107 million more than they might have expected
The “Damian Lillard trade” is the ultimate dream for the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers are going to have to pay a lot of money, though, if they want to make it happen.
Various stories continue to swirl around a possible Damian Lillard trade away from the Portland Trail Blazers, with the Philadelphia 76ers and Ben Simmons being mentioned. With Dame’s current franchise, there’s a front-office shakeup in the works, which has just added fuel to the trade speculations. Lillard, on the other hand, has stubbornly refused to ask for a trade out of Portland.
Lillard seems to be the 76ers’ first priority. If that’s the case, it looks like obtaining the elite point guard will cost much more than Simmons.
Dame is allegedly seeking a two-year extension, which would last until 2026-27.
Before a game against the Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard warms up. | Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
Since the Blazers ousted longstanding general manager Neil Olshey, news and speculations seem to be flowing thick and fast. A number of concerns have surfaced now that the corporation is seeking for his successor.
Will Lillard’s next general manager want to retain him? Will they look for a trading partner first? Is it time to start afresh and blow everything up? Or, if Lillard is dealt, will it be for assets that will help Portland stay competitive?
As these issues float about in the air, the newest buzz is that Dame may demand a two-year contract extension for $107 million to whatever team he plays for.
The 31-year-old point guard’s desire to add additional years and money to his contract, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (h/t Bleacher Report), will make the Blazers’ next general manager’s task even more difficult:
“There’s little excitement among numerous top-level GM prospects who fit Portland’s application pool to award Lillard his big extension deal through the 2026-27 season.” In fact, some executives told ESPN that if ownership agreed to relocate Lillard sooner rather than later, they would be significantly more interested in the Blazers position.”
However, SI’s Chris Mannix said on The Crossover podcast that these claims are false. As with any move involving Lillard, there are conflicting reports.
However, where there’s smoke, there’s typically fire.
If Philly is serious about acquiring Damian Lillard, it may cost an additional $107 million.
Damian Lillard’s desire to be extended and become the NBA’s highest-paid player in his mid-30s is the most difficult aspect in Portland’s GM search. https://t.co/HOQADHdXEi on ESPN+
December 7, 2021 — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
More than any other player in a Simmons deal, the 76ers and GM Daryl Morey have sought Lillard. They’re still hanging on to Big Ben for that reason — they’re going big-game hunting, and they haven’t been able to persuade Portland to let them go.
However, if this report is accurate, it has two major implications: One, it may make the Trail Blazers more likely to trade Lillard, and two, it might make it easier for Morey to land the Weber State product.
Extending Dame’s deal for another two seasons comes with its own set of problems. His current deal goes through 2023-24, with a player option for ’24-25,’ according to Spotrac. The value of such option would be $48.7 million.
If Lillard gets his way and signs another two-year contract, he would make more than $50 million each year between the ages of 35 and 36.
There aren’t many little guards who can play well into their mid-30s. Injuries have already plagued Dame in 2021-22, and he is suffering his worst season statistically since his second year in the league.
Morey, on the other hand, isn’t renowned for being careful. If he wants Lillard, he’ll almost certainly be willing to pay top dollar.
And it’s possible that this is the correct decision.
For the 76ers, acquiring Lillard would still be worthwhile.
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In NBA standards, the 2025-26 season, when this new agreement would take effect, is a long time away. The Sixers are desperate to win right now, and for good reason.
When healthy, Joel Embiid is an MVP candidate. He’s a powerful big man with the ability to score inside, rebound, defend the basket, and stretch the floor. His main concern has been maintaining his health.
He’s also never been surrounded with a dominant scoring guard. That’s one of the reasons Simmons is leaving Philadelphia: the two were never a good match.
At his finest, Lillard, on the other hand, is a viable MVP contender. The 76ers would have two of the finest players in the league, and the pairing of Dame and JoJo could bring out the best qualities of each player’s game.
If the team wants to win today, adding $50 million or more five years down the road shouldn’t be a problem.
Bringing in Lillard to play with Embiid would immediately elevate the Sixers to championship contention. Isn’t that what Morey has yearned for all these time?
NBA.com provided all data.
RELATED: Joel Embiid Just Proved the 76ers Need to Put Their Pride Aside and Make a Move They’ve Been Delaying for Too Long
Watch This Video-
“Dame Lillard College” is a video that has been released by the Philadelphia 76ers. The video shows what it would be like if Damian Lillard was traded to the Sixers. The trade would cost them $107 million more than they might have expected. Reference: dame lillard college.
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