Report: Sixers Among Most Aggressive Teams for Dame Lillard

Earlier this week, Portland guard Damian Lillard denied a report that he will be requesting a trade from the Blazers.

"My intention in my heart is to be in a Blazers uniform my entire career," he Lillard said on Friday. But over time, you want to win it all."

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However in the event that Portland makes the decision to move Lillard, the Sixers are among teams that will be at the front of the line to make an offer for his services according to Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer.

multiple front-office sources say the Heat, Kings, Knicks, Rockets, and Sixers have recently been the most aggressive suitors.

Per O'Connor's report, teams making an offer for Lillard may have to rival the haul the Nets gave up to acquire James Harden, featuring multiple young players, plus three first-round picks and four first-round pick swaps.

Any deal the Sixers make for Lillard, would almost undoubtedly involve Ben Simmons and likely include either Tyrese Maxey and/or Matisse Thybulle and multiple draft picks.

The Sixers hope to enter the Lillard sweepstakes, not settle for McCollum. But there’s pressure on the Sixers front office to maximize Joel Embiid’s prime. And just like Simmons could be better in Portland, McCollum could be better in Philadelphia.

As O'Connor points out the Sixers front office might feel the need to make a blockbuster deal, like the Nets, to maximize Joel Embiid's prime years, especially coming off a season where he was the runner-up for the NBA MVP award.

A Embiid-Lillard pairing would put the Sixers at the top of the list of teams in the east and make them a serious contender for a NBA title.