Windhorst Teases Potential Damian Lillard Trade to Philadelphia
NBA silly season is fully upon us. And the number one target of baseless rumors connected to the Sixers the past few seasons has been one Damian Lillard. He is our White Whale. We have wanted to see him in a Sixers jersey since Ben Simmons trade rumors first started. But Dame’s wishy washy nature never led to him actually asking out. So he has stuck in Portland. But we are at that time of year again. Damian Lillard rumors are heating up again. And he could actually be moved again.
Earlier today Ramona Shelburne reported that the Sixers would not extend Tyrese Maxey this offseason. The reason given is that they want to maintain cap flexibility. But Brian Windhorst has something different in mind. He joined NBA Today leading up to the start of NBA Free Agency. And he said something that will get Sixers fans very excited.
.@WindhorstESPN thinks the Sixers could add Tyrese Maxey in a potential trade for Dame Lillard 🤔 pic.twitter.com/mZoBz9mD2v
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 30, 2023
“[Ramona Shelburne] a short time ago reported that the Sixers were not going to extend Tyrese Maxey this summer. Want to know why? Because they might trade him. He would be a potential piece in a Damian Lillard trade. If you look at the team that have interest in Lillard, Miami, Philly, Brooklyn, maybe New York. Tyrese Maxey is a very interesting piece amongst those teams. He stands out. He is an potential All-Star at that position “
Hmm, interesting. It does not sound like he is reporting anything solid. More so speculating on hat he thinks may be happening. Outside of Lebron James news, Windy has often been fairly accurate. He anticipated the Jazz blowing things up long before others did.
A few weeks ago, it looked like the Damian Lillard dream was dead. But if you have read Moby Dick, you know you can never give up on the White Whale. We in Philly can be just as obsessive as Captain Ahab. Even though it is probably not good for our mental health. And Windy dropping this bomb on us an hour before free agency kicks off is just going to have us obsessing over a Damian Lillard trade all over again. And while losing Maxey would suck given how beloved he has become in Philadelphia. If you can land a player as great as Dame, you have to do it.
Again, this is just speculation. There are no concrete reports of anything in the works.
Tracking All The NBA Free Agency News and Moves
NBA Free Agency is always an adventure. Officially “Legal Tampering” begins at 6 pm. But we all know there were talks going on long before then. Every year there are deals suddenly agreed to moments past when teams can officially negotiate. Are we to believe that they negotiated these complicated deals in just a few minutes? It’s why it was ridiculous that the Sixers got penalized multiple second-round picks for “tampering” with James Harden and PJ Tucker. Because everyone tampers.
And we are once again here. And due to the recent Harden news, plus whatever is going on with Tobias Harris, it could be a very interesting free agency for the Sixers. Even if none of the moves they make are technically free agents. It is looking like Harden will be heading to the Clippers. But there is also word the Knicks could be in on him too.
But it is not just the Sixers with a lot of choices to make. Damian Lillard is once again flirting with asking out, though he has not done so yet. Kyrie Irving could be on the move. We already had some big trades with Chris Paul being traded twice and Bradley Beal heading to the Suns. And over this Holiday weekend, there are sure to be many more moves that shake up the NBA.
What are the Sixers going to do? Will they accomplish the dream and land Damian Lillard? Could it be some other star coming back? Or will they get no one of that level back? What about Tobias Harris, could he be moved as he seems to want? And where will all the other big names around the NBA land?