Damian Lillard says on IG Live he isn’t leaving Portland, at least not yet
The big name that has been on the trade radar all summer has been Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard. There has been some frustration expressed with the organization in the past and there were even reports that he could request a trade soon.
While Lillard has not requested any trade and he reiterated that he would like to stay in Portland, the Philadelphia 76ers have made it known that the ultimate goal is to acquire Lillard. The idea of a Lillard and Joel Embiid pick-and-roll is very enticing for the Sixers considering Lillard’s ability to shoot the ball with deep range.
However, it does appear that Lillard will not be available at the moment, but he could be very soon. The superstar point guard took to Instagram Live and he took questions from fans and when asked if he was going to leave Portland, he said he isn’t leaving the team, but he opened the door for a potential trade request soon. He added that he is not leaving “not right now at least”.
Damian Lillard on leaving PDX:
"I'm not leaving PDX not right now at least," Says Lillard. #RipCity #NBA #NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/aRwnuaR1hQ
— Landon Buford (@LandonBuford) August 25, 2021
The Sixers can offer the Blazers a big package centered around 25-year old 3-time All-Star Ben Simmons and some younger players such as Tyrese Maxey and Matisse Thybulle, for example.
The likely scenario is that Lillard and Simmons will begin the 2021-22 season with their respective teams. However, if Portland gets off to a slow start, then the thought of a trade could cross Lillard’s mind and that is when the Sixers should strike and offer something to bring him to the City of Brotherly Love.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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