Stephen A. Smith Says Damian Lillard Would Team Up With Joel Embiid Or Jayson Tatum In New York If He Requests A Trade

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Stephen A. Smith is really high on the chances the New York Knicks have to strike a deal with big names around the league this summer. The New Yorkers come from a terrific 2020/21 season and have $70 million in cap space. 

This looks like the recipe for success, but the Knicks still have work to do to emulate or improve their last campaign. In recent hours, the analyst named the Knicks as Damian Lillard's preferred destination if he requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers. 

Dame has been linked with several teams in prior weeks, but Smith is confident his beloved Knicks have a solid chance at the All-Star point guard. Moreover, the ESPN talent believes Lillard could attract other high-profile players to the Big Apple. 

Via Ky Carlin of USA Today: 

I happen to know, for a fact, that even though Damian Lillard isn’t really keen on getting traded from Portland, if he were to get traded from Portland, New York Knicks would be his number one destination. I’m telling you what I know. I’m not guessing. I know this will affect y’all figure out how. The New York Knicks would be his number one destination. If he were to want to get traded from Portland, I’m not saying he does, but if he would get traded from Portland, he would want to be in New York Knick, because he believes in the New York market. Unlike in Portland, it would be considerably easier for him to pull off getting guys to want to come play with him. Okay, guys like a Jayson Tatum down the line like a Joel Embiid down the line. Guys like that. These are the kinds of things that you have to pay attention to when it comes to a Damian Lillard.

This is a very entertaining idea, to be honest, but there's nothing that points out that Embiid or Tatum would like to leave their respective teams. Joel is trying to win with the Philadelphia 76ers, and Tatum will have another chance with the Boston Celtics. 

Sure, teaming up with Dame can be a good idea for both of them, but right now, that option seems very unlikely. Lillard has repeatedly stated he's focused on the Blazers, and he has the entire summer to decide on his future after several years of struggles in the Western Conference.