NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Philadelphia 76ers have a decision to make regarding Damion Lillard and Tyrese Maxey. Should they trade their young star Maxey for the veteran superstar Lillard? While many believe that sacrificing Maxey for the prime years of Joel Embiid’s career is a smart move, there’s no guarantee Lillard is the right fit to bring a title back to Broad St.
While in Portland, let’s not act as if Lillard did not have quality teammates at his disposal. Hell, at the beginning of his career, he was paired with All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge in his prime for the better part of 3 years, then was paired in the backcourt with CJ McCollum.
What did hurt him was that it was clear that after each failure, either through free agency or draft picks, no one could help. And instead of wanting out, the Blazers took Lillard’s loyalty to heart and kept making mistake after mistake. So, all this is supposed to change in Philly?
Moving Maxey, who at the moment is 11 years younger and has all the making of being a 25+ points per night scorer and face of the franchise after Embid either retires or leaves, is a risky decision.
Is Damian Lillard The Answer For The Philadelphia 76ers
Embiid has had his fair share of good teammates as well. Whatever we may think about Ben Simmons, there was a stretch where he did make 3 straight All-Star appearances and 2 First Team All-Defensive teams. Then you add in the team that had Jimmy Butler and that infamous Game 7 shot by Kawhi Leonard.
Oh wait, and how can we ignore last season with the NBA assists leader in James Harden? Just last season alone, the Philadelphia 76ers had 3 players average over 20 points per game, and yet, they still managed to fall in the 2nd Round of the playoffs for the 3rd straight season. And Lillard is supposed to remedy all of that?
Giving up Maxey for a player 11 years his senior is one hell of a gamble but it’s also one that Daryl Morey is known to make. But what happens when Lillard and Embiid continue to be ball hogs and Tobias Harris is still left on the perimeter hoping that a kick-out pass is coming his way?
Losing Harden will be a huge blow and gaining Lillard will be a great look but the 76ers may be looking too far ahead and forgetting that there is still a thing called the future. Damian Lillard has not played at least 70 games in a season since the 2018 campaign. Embiid has never played a full season since being drafted in 2014. But if Maxey goes, what happens then?
This is exactly why the emergence of Maxey is so crucial to the future of the Philadelphia 76ers. Embiid only has a handful of high-level seasons left in him and while many feel the 76ers need to capitalize, they must not do anything to jeopardize their future.
But this is a league where the future means nothing. Teams right on the fence will do whatever it takes to win a championship in their window and the 76ers are no different. Failing to get past the 2nd Round last season may have forced their hand. But there are other ways to improve the roster that does not include giving up an up-and-coming star.
The other thing to take into account is what else it would cost the Philadelphia 76ers. Maxey will be shipped out but so will draft picks. The 76ers, despite their recent run of success, cannot afford to keep offloading picks. Embiid will retire or leave one day and what’s left of them to rebuild with?
Damian Lillard and Joel Embiid would be a dangerous pair to deal with but both have proven to be injury prone and if one or both are not on the floor when it matters most, then what? Winning now is important but is it more important than going through another “Trust The Process” era? The 76ers have a plan in place for the future and that plan is Tyrese Maxey.
