Ben Simmons’s liked a tweet from ESPN journalist Zach Lowe that hinted at the Sixers’ preferred trade destination for Kawhi Leonard.
The “blazers rumors” is a post by the Sixers Star, Joel Embiid, that may hint at where he would like to be traded. The post has since been deleted, but it is still possible to see what was in the post.
Getty During a playoff game against the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers player Ben Simmons coaches his team.
The Philadelphia 76ers are still weighing their choices for Ben Simmons, and the three-time NBA All-Star may have just dropped a huge indication about his preferred destination.
Philadelphia’s beleaguered floor general liked an Instagram photo from Bleacher Report boosting the news only hours after Shams Charania of The Athletic revealed that Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard had plans to partner up with Simmons in the Pacific Northwest.
That may not be the same as Simmons declaring his desire to play for the Blazers, but it is still making news. And, in the minds of many, a deal between the two teams that would bring CJ McCollum to the City of Brotherly Love is already in the works.
The Sixers, on the other hand, don’t seem to be as enthusiastic about the move.
Sixers ‘Not Currently Interested’ in McCollum, according to Neubeck
Is it possible for Dame Lillard to pair up with Ben Simmons? & LeBron James gets chastised for his “childish dance” | Swagu and Perk Is Dame Lillard collaborating with Ben Simmons? & LeBron James gets chastised for his “childish dance” | Swagu and Perk Marcus Spears and Kendrick Perkins talk about how Damian Lillard has to make a difficult choice, why Kareem Abdul-Jabbar should be thanking LeBron James rather than condemning him, and why Oklahoma fans need to have the same intensity as them… 2023-12-07T18:45:09Z
Despite the fact that Lillard is the guy Sixers supporters want on their team — and Daryl Morey is believed to want him — McCollum talk has been going on since the summer, and not just among fans. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Lillard’s camp was also on board.
Morey and company, according to Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice, are aiming higher than McCollum. He says in his letter:
A source familiar with the matter told PhillyVoice on Monday evening that the Sixers have had no recent talks with Portland about a CJ McCollum trade, and that a package focused on the Blazers’ guard is not presently of interest to the Sixers.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on the December 7 edition of his podcast, The Lowe Post, that in terms of a Simmons deal, “Philly has basically been Dame or nothing.”
The Sixers are anticipated to continue talking to clubs leading up to December 15, when a number of players’ trade limitations will be released, according to Neubeck. If McCollum is “not presently of interest” to Philadelphia, it’s tough to see him grabbing the team’s attention in the future.
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The Relationship Between McCollum and Lillard Is Still Going Strong
Despite rumors that Lillard would be OK if the Blazers utilized McCollum to get Simmons, McCollum is confident that his backcourt partner is still on his side.
“I believe he’d say that if he wanted me to go,” McCollum told The Athletic. “He’s not going to talk about me behind my back because it’s not in his DNA.” He isn’t made that way. He’s dependable, and I’m certain that his word is his bond.”
He went on to say that the two have a “nice connection,” but that he doesn’t believe things that aren’t from the guy himself.
“I believe you hear Dame when he talks. When I hear the words’sources’ and ‘anonymous,’ I’m not sure whether it’s Dame or not, since Dame isn’t putting his name on it. He usually signs items with his name on them.
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