Damian Lillard and Joel Embiid together would be scary. And Stephen A. Smith put that thought into orbit on ESPN's First Take this morning.
“James Harden is playing outstanding," Smith said. "James Harden is a future Hall Of Famer. Got a lot of love and respect for James Harden. I would take Damian Lillard over James Harden in a heartbeat. I wouldn't think twice if I was Philly and I can get my hands on Damian Lillard and I had to forfeit Harden...so be it. No shade on James Harden. That's what I think about Damian Lillard.”
Smith admitted he is very close with Lillard (maybe Lillard wanted this out?) and says this is the closest the 32-year-old guard has sounded to wanting to leave the Portland Trail Blazers.
Lillard has been complementary of Joel Embiid in the past and called Embiid, along with Mikal Bridges, his favorite players in the league on Smith's podcast. He also made it very clear that he wants to play for a contending team.
Lillard, a seven-time All-Star and future Hall Of Famer, is set to make $45.6 million next season and $48.8 million in 2024-25, per Spotrac.com. He averaged a career-high 32.2 points per game this season, with a 56.4-percent effective field goal percentage, also a career-high.
Harden, who turns 34 in August, has a player-option for 2023-24 worth $35.6 million. Obviously, the Sixers and Daryl Morey would try to make the salary cap work if Lillard wanted to come to Philadelphia and Portland was open to a trade. 2023-24 is Tobias Harris' final year under contract, where he is set to make a gaudy $39.2 million.
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This is all fun bar talk for now, but for the Sixers and their organization, they are focused on a postseason run which begins Saturday at 1pm at the Wells Fargo Center. If they were to win the NBA Finals, or likely even just reach the Finals, keeping Harden and Embiid together would become a lot more attractive.
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