Damian Lillard Trade Talks Intensify as Sixers Hesitate on Including Tyrese Maxey
As the NBA offseason progresses, trade rumors surrounding Portland Trail Blazers’ star Damian Lillard continue to escalate. With training camp looming, fans and analysts are eagerly speculating about potential deals. Among the most recent reports is a credible revelation by ESPN’s Bobby Marks, stating that the only condition under which Portland would engage in trade talks with the Philadelphia 76ers is if young guard Tyrese Maxey is included. However, the Sixers have shown reluctance in parting ways with Maxey.
According to Marks and his ESPN colleagues, a hypothetical three-team trade scenario involving the Blazers, Sixers, and LA Clippers has been discussed. The proposed trade would see Damian Lillard heading to Philadelphia, alongside Terance Mann, Norman Powell, and Robert Covington. In return, the Trail Blazers would receive Furkan Korkmaz, Tyrese Maxey, Jaden Springer, Nicolas Batum, Amir Coffey, Marcus Morris Sr., as well as the 2028 and 2030 first-round picks from the Clippers. The Clippers, on the other hand, would acquire James Harden and Tobias Harris.
If the proposed deal were to go through, the Sixers would undoubtedly be bolstered by the addition of Damian Lillard, who is considered superior to James Harden by many. Pairing Lillard with the formidable Joel Embiid and replacing Tobias Harris with Norman Powell and Terance Mann would undeniably elevate the team’s performance and make them a stronger contender.
However, if you take into account the perspective of the Blazers, the inclusion of Tyrese Maxey in the trade may not be sufficient. Although Maxey is deemed to possess significant potential and trade value, the disparity between him and Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro, who would likely be part of an alternative trade package, isn’t substantial. The Heat’s offer, which may include Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and additional draft assets, provides Portland with a more enticing collection of young talent and a better overall deal.
To sway Blazers General Manager Joe Cronin’s decision, it would require him to believe that Tyrese Maxey is worth passing up on two additional promising prospects. This might be unlikely given Portland’s commitment to Scoot Henderson, and the fact that a backcourt consisting of Maxey and Henderson might be considered undersized in the long run. It’s worth mentioning that there have already been discussions about potentially trading Anfernee Simons.
If the current hold-up in the proposed Lillard trade is indeed the Sixers’ reluctance to include Tyrese Maxey, and the Blazers are genuinely open to negotiations if Maxey is part of the deal, then Sixers President of Basketball Operations, Daryl Morey, may be making a mistake. While Maxey is undeniably a talented player with the potential to become an All-Star, the opportunity to pair Damian Lillard with Joel Embiid, along with a strong supporting cast, presents Morey with his best chance to compete for an NBA title in Philadelphia.
As the NBA trade talks continue to unfold, the fate of Damian Lillard remains uncertain. Both the Blazers and the Sixers face critical decisions that could reshape their franchises. It remains to be seen whether the inclusion of Tyrese Maxey will ultimately prove to be the deciding factor in the potential Lillard trade. Until then, fans and analysts will eagerly await further developments in one of the most intriguing storylines of the NBA offseason.
