Damian Lillard, according to recent reports, only wants to be traded to the Heat, and Jon Marks is officially out on his previous desire for the Sixers to make a push for the superstar point guard.
“I’m out on Damian Lillard,” Marks said. “I’m finished…if that’s what they’re putting out there, I can’t risk this being the last shot with Joel Embiid. You’d be trading Tyrese Maxey. If he’s not happy…he has player options and things like that, so he can walk.
“He’s never mentioned the Sixers at all…I’m out. I need to move on, and I need to move on with Maxey or I need to figure out what I’m gonna do here, focus on James Harden, and get Harden the hell out of here. If Lillard doesn’t want to come here, and his agents are letting teams know to not even try to trade for him, OK, you’ve scared me off, I’m out.”
On the other hand, Ike Reese wasn’t scared off in the slightest. In fact, he said modern NBA players need to stop trying to control their specific trade fate after requesting to be moved, and if the 76ers can offer the best package for him, they should pursue it.
“Daryl Morey ought to see the big picture here and realize getting Damian Lillard here and pairing him with Joel Embiid…I’m not scared off by that,” Reese said. “I think this is where Portland needs to grow a set and realize you need to take the best package you can get…I’m not scared off by Damian Lillard trying to scare everyone off so he can force his way to Miami.
“I’m about tired of the NBA players forcing a trade here and forcing a trade there. You want to be traded, that’s fine. You don’t get to determine where you get traded. I started to feel better when Morey seemingly grew a set and wouldn’t trade Harden until he gets what he wants in return, and worst-case scenario, Harden is back on a one-year deal.”
As for the fear that Lillard wouldn’t want to play in Philly and the trade would be for nothing, Ike says the city itself would take care of that part.
“He’s gonna fall in love with this city just like everyone else does that winds up coming here,” Ike said.