By Jerry Wein
The Sixers are in Charlotte tonight for another game against the Hornets after a big, gutty win the other night.
Thanks to Joel Embiid, who exploded for 43 points and 15 rebounds.
But what about crybaby Ben Simmons, who has not played and is taking up a roster spot?
The Sixers and Blazers have been linked with talk of Simmons being moved for Portland star Damian Lillard.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Sixers are one of the three teams who are waiting for Lillard to make a trade request–the New York Knicks are another team. Lillard’s camp is growing frustrated as they even wanted Simmons in Portland over the summer.
In the past year, Lillard and his camp have been thwarted on leverage plays — Jason Kidd as coach, trading CJ McCollum and four first-round picks for Ben Simmons. Most of all, they lost the confidence that the Blazers had a top basketball executive and ownership willing to give Lillard the highest single-season pay in league history at $55.3 million in 2027.
Three teams with interest in Lillard told ESPN that they are waiting on him to make an offseason trade demand before calling Portland. If Lillard asks out, they know the Blazers will lose some leverage in the asking price — and are waiting on it. Philadelphia made an offer, but New York never did, league sources said. Lillard’s reps offered mixed messages on the star’s intentions to stay or go, and rival teams say that the star’s camp had real concerns about Olshey’s willingness to recommend the extension to ownership in 2022.
Lillard has expressed that he wants Simmons to join him in the Pacific Northwest, but that means Philadelphia would have to focus on C.J. McCollum who is a good player, but he is not Lillard. The Sixers are not interested in a McCollum deal and this is going to be a situation that will continue to develop as time goes on.
