Trade rumors have been swirling around Damian Lillard since the Trail Blazers were knocked out of the playoffs, but backcourt partner CJ McCollum believes Lillard is “all in” for the new season, writes Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian. Appearing on a podcast with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, McCollum discussed Lillard, new coach Chauncey Billups and several other topics.
“I don’t want to speak for him, but having a close relationship, he and I talk every day, or every other day, from sharing memes to sending videos to each other to serious talks about our season, what it takes to win, what it’s going to takes to win a championship, I have a pretty good sense of where he’s at,” McCollum said of Lillard. “And I think his goal is to win a championship. I think, at the end of the day, that’s what we all want. We want to put ourselves in the best position to win a championship. But I mean, he’s all in. I think at this stage I can say that he’s all in. He just wants to win at the end of the day.”
Lillard held a press conference last month while preparing for the Olympics to deny a report that he was about to ask Portland’s front office for a trade. Although he hasn’t demanded a deal, Lillard has communicated his desire to upgrade the roster to give the Blazers a better chance to compete for a title.
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- Michael Rand of The Star Tribune examines the latest rumors about the Timberwolves‘ interest in Ben Simmons, concluding that Minnesota would like to acquire Simmons but doesn’t have the assets to make a deal. Rand suggests an offer of D’Angelo Russell, Jaden McDaniels and at least one first-round pick, which he concedes still may not be enough to interest the Sixers. Daryl Morey, Philadelphia’s president of basketball operations, is looking for a star in return, so the Wolves might need to get other teams involved to have a chance at Simmons.
- March is a “reasonable target date” to expect Nuggets guard Jamal Murray to start playing again, according to Mike Singer of The Denver Post. That would be 11 months since his surgery for a torn ACL. Denver targeted a scoring guard in the draft to make up for the loss of Murray, Singer adds, and came away with Bones Hyland.
- Jazz owner Ryan Smith tells Ben Anderson of KSL Sports that fans shouldn’t read anything into his golf outings with former Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge. There have been rumors that Ainge might be considered for a position in Utah’s front office, but Smith says they have been playing together for a long time. “I’ve played golf with Danny Ainge for 20 years,” Smith said. “I know the media likes to write about it like there’s this thing going on with Danny, but Danny has been a mentor and a friend for 20 years.”
Dlo and mcdaniels and a future 1st lol. They literally asked dubs for Wiggins, wiseman, Kuminga, moody, and 3 future firsts. DLo is a high volume low efficiency scorer that plays no D. Wiggins > Dlo
Those local writers dont watch games of other teams – otherwise I dont get how they come up with such idiot trades
There have been plenty of trade suggestions here that were just as idiotic. But the Sixers aren’t going to get many offers substantially better than this one. The longer they put this off the more they will be forced to lower their demands. Unless by some miracle Ben Simmons can learn how to shoot FT’s and 3-pointers his value isn’t going to rise.
Sixers still could get somebody better than no defense D’Lo. Simmons will not be traded because the Sixer GM will over price him. I am guessing the trade will be a 3 or 4 team trade with multiple players changing teams.
And the sixers got laughed at and hung up on for that stupid request. There’s a reason BS is still on Philly and there hasn’t been anything close to a deal yet.
Meyers did say that deal was not even close to happening. Sixers GM hates GSW so there is no way he will go to GSW.
Lillard is not available for trade this season
I read that Wolves GM want to keep Big Three
No one is more interested in Simmons than Wolves
Even if Dame were available, he wouldn’t be traded to Philly for Simmons unless the Sixers were willing to include multiple first round picks plus another good player or two.
Greenwood I agree, but I believe Lillard will become a available.
It makes zero sense for Wolves to trade DLo for Simmons because they still can’t make playoffs
It makes perfect sense for Wolves to trade Beasley and Beverley for Simmons via third team
Wolves would be willing to add protected picks
Fans really don’t know Simmons has little trade market
Few teams are interested now
Makes loads of sense for wolves to trade Dlo for Ben cause Ben is a much better basketball player. Plus they could make the playoffs with Beverly Ant Ben Prince and KAT as starter with Beasley off the bench.
There’s literally no way in the world the Sixers accept Beverly and Beasley for Ben unless it comes with 10 first round picks all unprotected.
Idk, I’d rather have the guy who can shoot the basketball since this is the NBA and all
Almost any team with Simmons can make the playoffs.
He is a good competitor. He’s scary good in the open floor. He’s just a bit of a head case. They say his family spoiled him rotten. He does seem to be pouting right now by not talking to the Sixers. I think that’s scared everyone else away.
Timberwolves are just desperate to make the playoffs. I think they would get very close to the playoffs. They would at least make it to the play-in tournament. Spurs will be much worse this season, so they could fill that spot.
Almost any team with Simmons can make the playoffs.
No one other than Lillard or beal makes the number 1 seed and top ranked starting 5 in the nba better, that is why Big Ben goes nowhere. The league knows Big Ben’s value and you don’t sell low on a 3x all star 3x all defense voted best defensive player by nba head coaches, rookie of the year, triple double machine, guard and play 1-5.
Make sure you clarify #1 seed in the East. Simmons also was never voted best defensive player. He was a runner-up. Good try, though. Sounds like you’re his PR person. .lol
Simmons is a good defender but his ranking is greatly exaggerated. He’s always saying stuff in the media. He’s a bit insecure by saying all that.
There are plenty of guys that have more steals, for example. Plenty of guys that play just as good of positional defense and lockdown defense. There’s even quite a few that can play stellar multi-positional defense.
The real rankings are in the stats, not mouths.
Dame is never leaving Portland. If anything only way Blazers get potentially better. Is to move CJ. Teams that get capped out. Before becoming contenders. Will always find it hard to make that next step. They like get stuck as a top 4-6 team. Can never really make that big addition. You really need great scouts, talent evaluators. To find a player that can break out, take that next step. Like a Grant did in Detroit. Not easy lols.
Simmons I can’t see him coming back to Philly. Minny has no one Sixers want. And why would Ben go there. I know Philly can move him where they want. Ben does have a 15% trade kicker. But it still is best to send him where he wants. At least try to anyway.
I do think Simmons needs moved just gonna be hard to get the 6ers perceived value for the 3x all star, 2x all defense and 4x Rookie of the year.
4x rookie of the year?? Sounds legit
.lol It’s a running joke. He should’ve never been allowed to win the ROTY in his second season. The Sixers held him out of games the previous year on purpose. He was healthy enough to play his real rookie season. That’s manipulating the system and really dumb. .lol
I’d take Dlo, Okogie and 2/3 first round picks.
But before that they need to go back to the kings and kick the tyres on DeAaron Fox again.
Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and a first round pick for Fox and Bagley.
Forget Dame and Beal, it’s simply not happening.
Fox is the best player we can get back, he could be even better than Ben, he’s should be our target.
That makes the Kings worse not better. My guess is they want to add to Foxx not replace him. Btw, defense or not, Foxx > Simmons.
Sadly as a 76ers fan, I can say Simmons isn’t going anywhere. He can’t shoot, doesn’t make his foul shots and offers nothing when trying to run a play with a set offense. The other teams know his limitations and aren’t going to offer a stupid package for him. Too bad Morey hasn’t figured that out.
Kyrie for Simmons? Actually helps both teams.
And a lockerroom with Kyrie and Embiid is made-for-reality-show tv!
The Nets wouldn’t do that now. Maybe next Summer or if there’s a problem during the regular season. I’m guessing that’s what other teams are thinking that secretly still want Simmons.