Only Way For Philadelphia 76ers To Land Damian Lillard Revealed By NBA Insider

• The Philadelphia 76ers have to offer up Tyrese Maxey to potentially land Damian Lillard

• The 76ers have "no inclination" to move Maxey

• Damian Lillard could be a difference-maker for the 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers had another disappointing playoff exit this season, losing in the second round to the Boston Celtics. This is particularly unfortunate due to the presence of MVP Joel Embiid on the roster, and it is clear that the team must make a move to truly be championship contenders. 

We have often seen the 76ers being floated as a potential trade destination for superstar guard Damian Lillard. Recently, NBA insider Bobby Marks of ESPN suggested that the only way the Trail Blazers would enter trade talks is if Tyrese Maxey is involved.

"The only way Portland engages Philadelphia in trade talks is if Maxey is involved, but Philadelphia has shown no inclination to move its young guard."

There is no doubt that Tyrese Maxey is a valuable young player, and he has shown flashes of being a star. Last season with the Philadelphia 76ers, Maxey averaged 20.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, while shooting 43.4% from 3PT range. He could be a future cornerstone for the Portland Trail Blazers and would be a solid centerpiece in a Damian Lillard trade.

From the Philadelphia 76ers' perspective, it makes sense to trade for Damian Lillard and take advantage of Joel Embiid's prime years. Lillard could be a difference-maker for the franchise and could help the team finally make it out of the Eastern Conference. Last season, Damian Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game, while shooting 37.1% from beyond the arc.

It remains to be seen what course of action the Philadelphia 76ers will take in the future. Neither option in this scenario is wrong, but if Maxey develops into a star, the team's championship window could be longer than it would be after a Lillard trade.

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Damian Lillard Doesn't Plan On Reporting To Training Camp If Not On The Trail Blazers Or Heat

The one thing complicating a Damian Lillard trade is the superstar's stance on where he wants to go. The Miami Heat are clearly his preferred destination as of right now. In fact, it was previously reported that Lillard will not report to training camp if traded anywhere but the Heat.

“Expect Portland and Miami to re-engage before the start of training camp that's coming up in the next two and a half weeks," said Shams on 'The Rally.' "Really, at this point, I'm told that the only two training camps that Damian Lillard would report to, in theory: Portland and Miami."

It remains to be seen if Damian Lillard will end up on the Miami Heat in the future. It seems as though he is trying to force the Trail Blazers to move him to the Heat, and it seems likely that he will succeed.

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Damian Lillard Can Help Any Competitive Team

If Damian Lillard changes his mind about only playing for the Miami Heat, then there are a lot of teams that could be a good fit for the point guard. Young teams like the New Orleans Pelicans and the Oklahoma City Thunder could use a difference-maker like Lillard to help them take the next step. 

As of right now, though, Lillard has shown no signs of adjusting his stance. It is quite likely that we'll see him suit up for the Heat at some point in the future, even if other teams can offer better packages.

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