One NBA writer is proposing that the Philadelphia 76ers trade Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey to the Portland Trail Blazers for Damian Lillard in a huge blockbuster trade. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Sixers and Blazers:
The Trade: Sixers trade Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey, Jaden Springer, a 2029 first-round pick and first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030 to Blazers for Damian Lillard
“The 76ers would have to exhaust their resources to get Lillard—though they might recoup some assets in a Harden deal—but the possible prize would be enormous,” Buckley wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “A Lillard-Embiid combo could prove potent enough to push Philadelphia out of the Eastern Conference. Plus, winning the Lillard sweepstakes would force the Miami Heat (one of its chief conference rivals) to scramble for a Plan B to their latest star search.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers, Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Lillard has requested a trade from the Blazers, while James Harden has requested a trade from the Sixers. Neither superstar has a no-trade clause in their contract, so Lillard and Harden can be traded anywhere.
Lillard requested to be traded from the Blazers to only the Miami Heat on July 1. He has spent all 11 seasons of his NBA career with Portland, which selected him with the sixth pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. The Blazers finished 33-49 and 13th in the Western Conference last season.
Lillard expressed his frustration with the Blazers in recent years for failing to construct a roster capable of making a title push. The Weber State product felt the time was now to request a trade after coming off a career season. Lillard was upset the Blazers didn’t trade the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft for a star player. Portland drafted Scoot Henderson, who plays the same position as Lillard, with the third pick.
Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists last season for the Blazers. He will make $46.6 million next season. The future Hall of Famer signed a two-year, $121.8 million extension with Portland in July 2022.
The Blazers are seeking four first-round picks and two quality players in return for Lillard. Maybe the Sixers, Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers can orchestrate a three-team trade where Lillard lands in Philadelphia and Harden lands in Los Angeles. Harden wants the Sixers to trade him to the Clippers.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers, Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Maxey averaged 20.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Sixers last season, while Harris put up 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
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