Damian Lillard Trade Rumors Spark Reminder About Tyrese Maxey

As the Damian Lillard trade rumors gain a little steam in September, many might be wondering what the 76ers think about a potential Tyrese Maxey trade.

The Portland Trail Blazers haven’t cut ties with Damian Lillard just yet. In fact, trade talks have gone quiet after a noisy start to free agency when the All-Star guard formally requested a trade.

To no surprise, the Philadelphia 76ers were one of a few teams linked to Lillard. And once again, unsurprisingly, Tyrese Maxey’s name was thrown in the rumor mill.

Assuming that if the Sixers and the Blazers were to seriously discuss a deal centered around Lillard, Maxey would almost certainly be the significant piece Portland would want in return. The basketball world has been told in the past that the Sixers have deemed Maxey untouchable at this point in his career.

In case you were wondering — that seems to remain the case. 

“The only way Portland engages Philadelphia in trade talks is if Maxey is involved,” said ESPN’s Bobby Marks. “Philadelphia has shown no inclination to move its young guard.”

While discussing multiple mock trade scenarios centered around Lillard, an ESPN panel discussed a hypothetical framework of a three-team deal involving the Sixers, Blazers, and the Los Angeles Clippers.

In this scenario, the Sixers would land Lillard, Terance Mann, Norman Powell, and Robert Covington. The Blazers would net Furkan Korkmaz, Jaden Springer, Nicolas Batum, Amir Coffey, Marcus Morris, multiple first-round picks, and Maxey.

Meanwhile, the Clippers would receive the disgruntled guard James Harden and reunite with the veteran forward Tobias Harris.

Considering their stance on Maxey, the Sixers would more than likely hang up on this conference call if the Clippers don’t do it before them. 

At this point, LA and Philadelphia’s stance on certain players has been made clear; Maxey isn’t going anywhere — and neither is Mann. 

Several proven stars getting traded over the last few years pushed back the idea that there truly are untouchables in the NBA. While any player can be acquired with a simple overpay, the Sixers seem to have reservations about the idea that Lillard is the missing piece to their championship puzzle.

And as Maxey’s ceiling has yet to be established since he’s improved in each of his first three seasons in the NBA, climbing into the rising stars category of young players, the Sixers are rightfully hesitant to sell early on their former first-round pick.