Do the Sixers have what it takes to trade for Damian Lillard?

Framework of a potential Sixers – Damian Lillard trade

This is probably where you’re starting if you’re Portland. There’s no reason to accept anything less than Philadelphia’s three best young assets, on top of every legally providable first-round pick and/or pick swap. The Sixers already gave their 2025 first-round pick to OKC in the Danny Green trade, and the Stepien rule is tough to work around, but the Nets traded four picks and four swaps for James Harden with one-and-a-half years on his contract. The Blazers will require a similar haul.

It could feasibly take even more than what is listed above, and that would put the Sixers firmly between a rock and a hard place. Some teams — quite frankly — have better assets than Philadelphia. The Sixers are uniquely geared to compete, and can therefore stomach a full cleaning of house to get Lillard, but other teams have more picks and similar, if not better prospects. You cannot rule out the Sixers simply getting outbid, even if Morey pulls out every stop.

By that same token, the above trade suggestion is a lot, and some teams may simply not match it. The Sixers are firmly in the running if Lillard asks out, and even more so if he labels Philadelphia as a destination of choice. The Sixers also have the benefit of being in the East, a benefit New Orleans does not share. The same can be said of the LA teams, should Lillard express interest in a bigger market. The Blazers probably do not want to face Lillard four times a year for the foreseeable future if they can help it.

These things are seldom simple, and a Lillard trade request would reverberate throughout the NBA. He is arguably the most desirable trade target of the past five years when you take into account age, contract, attitude, and performance. There is very little the Sixers shouldn’t offer if Lillard becomes available.