The Philadelphia 76ers have no interest in trading Tyrese Maxey, even for a package to acquire Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
Lillard has requested a trade from the Blazers and wants to get traded to the Miami Heat.
Maxey is one of the best young players in the NBA. He averaged 20.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists this past season while shooting 48.1% from the field, 43.4% from beyond the arc and 84.5% from the free-throw line.
In the 2023 playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics, Maxey put up 20.5 points, 4.8 boards and 2.3 assists per game. The Sixers lost to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games despite having a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. Doc Rivers was fired as head coach and replaced by former Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers, Damian Lillard & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
The Sixers will not sign Maxey to a rookie-scale extension this summer, so he’ll become a restricted free agent next offseason.
“This is not viewed as a condemnation of Maxey or a reflection of how the team values him, with the team continuing to view Maxey as a long-term core piece,” Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice wrote about the Maxey situation. “The lack of an extension would come down to the flexibility Philadelphia can maintain by holding off on a deal, potentially clearing a pathway to another max slot next summer.
The Sixers are currently dealing with the James Harden trade request. The former MVP opted into his 2023-24 player option with Philly and is working with the organization on a trade. Harden wants to get traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers, Damian Lillard & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
If Harden gets traded, Maxey’s usage rate will increase next season. He would practically become the No. 2 option on offense behind superstar center Joel Embiid.
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