NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on Ben Simmons Negotiations, Damian Lillard, More
Damian Lillard and Ben Simmons remain two of the most buzzed-about players in the NBA as trade rumors heat up, with their names at the forefront of several reports from league insiders.
Lillard is an elite player on a bad team, and his attempts at improving things via leverage plays have been repeatedly thwarted by management. It makes sense that he would want to take his talents elsewhere rather than wasting what's left of his playing prime on a team that he would likely have to carry on his back to any and all postseason success.
If he is hellbent on staying with the only organization he has ever known, it makes sense that he would want help in improving things. Help in the form of, perhaps, Simmons?
The point guard continues to sit out in Philly as he addresses his mental health. All the while, trade talks persist.
Who are the latest suitors to have talked to the Sixers about acquiring Simmons' services, and why is Lillard himself not directly involved?
76ers Have Had Conversations with Minnesota Regarding Simmons
With Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweeting that Ben Simmons trade talks are heating up, Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News in Minneapolis reported that the Minnesota Timberwolves have had discussions with the 76ers about Simmons.
Philadelphia, as has been the case since the point guard became available, is looking for a top-25 player in return, creating a sizeable hurdle for teams looking to relieve the Sixers of their Simmons problem.
It isn't difficult to figure out why teams may not be willing to give up an elite player for Simmons, particularly following his no-show in last season's Eastern Conference semifinals. He failed to take a single fourth-quarter field-goal attempt during the series against the Atlanta Hawks, with his confidence obliterated.
His free-throw percentage (34.2) was the lowest in NBA playoffs history among those to have made at least 70 attempts, per Stat Muse.
Joel Embiid was critical of Simmons as the team made substantial changes, including letting Jimmy Butler go, to build the offense around him, only to then come up weak in the playoffs. Then came the one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team in October.
Philly thinking that any team would be willing to give up a superstar for a player who, at least on the surface, comes across as someone whose confidence has been badly shaken is only creating a nearly impossible trade scenario. Why put that high of a price tag, based solely on flashes of brilliance and what you perceive the value to be on a player who is no longer benefiting the team?
A change of scenery may benefit Simmons and return him to his previous glory, but the Sixers cannot afford to have his presence hang over their heads for the rest of the season, waiting for someone to meet their exorbitant asking price.
Simmons moving to Minnesota to pair with D'Angelo Russell or Anthony Edwards would, on paper, improve the T-Wolves, but it is unlikely to happen without Karl-Anthony Towns involved to meet the top-25 stipulation.
Damian Lillard Unavailable to Philly, Intent on Turning Things Around in Portland
The Sixers have engaged the Portland Trail Blazers in conversations regarding Simmons too but were told by interim general manager Joe Cronin that all-world point guard Damian Lillard is not available to be discussed in those talks, per Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe of ESPN.
The Blazers were open to discussing a package in which they would acquire Simmons for guard CJ McCollum,.
Wojnarowski reported Lillard wanted McCollum and four No. 1 draft picks sent to Philly in return for Simmons, but again, that never materialized.
Lillard recently addressed trade discussions, saying, "I'm not asking for a trade. My intentions are to be in Portland and to figure it out," ESPN's Ros Gold-Onwude reported. She added that Lillard has been in the office with head coach Chauncey Billups every day, trying to find solutions to the Blazers' woes.
Portland is 11th in the Western Conference, under .500 and has lost its past four.
As for Simmons, he has not played this season and requested a trade out of Philadelphia following his disastrous Eastern Conference semifinals appearance against Atlanta.
