Sixers rumors: Goal is to acquire Damian Lillard

The Sixers have hit a minor speed bump in the Ben Simmons saga. The star actively wants out, while interested teams continue to swing below Daryl Morey’s desired price line. At some point, compromise is a must — Morey can’t ask for every young player and every draft pick forever — but it’s clear the organization maintains a high opinion of Simmons.

If Philadelphia wants to keep Simmons around until his trade value improves, then Simmons will have very little say in the matter. With four years on his contract and a historic playoff flop on his résumé, he’s not negotiating from a position of strength. Unless he wants to forfeit game checks, he will be on the floor next season if the Sixers will it so.

With that said, it appears increasingly clear that Morey will not trade Simmons unless the return is of significant value. He will not simply float Simmons on the market for a couple draft picks and Andrew Wiggins. He will only make a trade that actively improves Philadelphia’s title odds.

One such move, of course, is Damian Lillard.

The Sixers want to trade for Damian Lillard, and that goal may very well be their guiding compass this offseason.

According to Derek Bodner of The Athletic ($), the Sixers’ goal is more to acquire Damian Lillard than to trade Ben Simmons. Philadelphia may have to bite the bullet on Simmons regardless, but it’s clear Morey would much rather trade Simmons (and stuff) for Lillard than settle for a lateral move.

This comes as no surprise. Morey’s management style has always revolved around superstars. It’s why he gambled on James Harden in Houston, and why he made such a strong push to acquire Harden early in his Sixers tenure. It’s why he brought Chris Paul and eventually Russell Westbrook to Houston. And it’s why he wants Damian Lillard in a Sixers uniform.

In general, Morey’s thesis is correct. You win championships with superstars. No team in the past decade has won the NBA championship without a bonafide superstar. The Sixers have one already in Joel Embiid, but to add a second top-10 player in Damian Lillard — even at the expense of depth and defense — would put Philadelphia firmly on the same playing field as Brooklyn, Milwaukee, and the NBA’s elite teams.

On paper, the Embiid-Lillard fit is almost too good to be true. He’s the perfect complement in every way — a guard who can take control late in games, break defenses with his 3-point range, and put consistent pressure on the rim. Embiid and Lillard would become fast friends on the court, generating arguably the most potent two-man game on the planet.

Simmons is a great player still, and the Sixers are wise to exercise patience, no matter how uncomfortable or downright upsetting the wait. Morey cannot lose the Simmons trade. If the wrong trade is made, Philadelphia loses its most valuable trade assets and plunges further out of contention. One way to avoid that risk is to trade Simmons for a significantly better player. A full-blown, Hall of Fame level guard. That is Damian Lillard.