Over the last few weeks, the future of Damian Lillard with the Portland Trail Blazers has been one of the biggest talking points in the NBA.
While some reports suggest that he wants to leave the organization, others say that he will stay. NBA analyst Bill Simmons recently proposed a huge blockbuster trade, keeping the latter in mind.
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Karl-Anthony Towns
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: Damian Lillard, Multiple Pick Swaps
“What if it’s just Towns for Dame, and there’s some pick swaps in there? And that’s the trade,” The Ringer’s Bill Simmons said. “And Portland says to Dame, ‘You know what? This is actually your best chance to chase the title because you can be with Edwards and Gobert and all these role players they have, and you’re gonna be in a better spot. And then, if it doesn’t work out there, maybe they flip you.'”
Simmons added: “And if you’re Portland, you get Towns, and you just put Towns with all these perimeter guys you have, and you go like, from a basketball standpoint, isn’t that just the most logical trade, or am I overthinking it?”
The Minnesota Timberwolves recently signed Naz Reid to a three-year $42 million deal. They now have three centers, Naz Reid, Rudy Gobert, and Karl-Anthony Towns, making a combined $443 million.
It would only make sense to trade one of them to get another superstar. Towns is expected to be on the trading block and getting Lillard in exchange for him could be a perfect deal for the Timberwolves.
Towns averaged 20.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 4.8 APG in the 2022-23 NBA season. On the other hand, Lillard posted 32.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 7.3 APG last season.
Damian Lillard Doesn’t Want To Play For A Team With Three Superstars
Damian Lillard and his agent Aaron Goodwin met the Portland Trail Blazers in order to discuss the 32-year-old’s future with the team.
Following the meeting, it was reported that the Trail Blazers are still committed to building around Lillard. But with the franchise using the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft to select Scoot Henderson, it doesn’t really align with Damian Lillard’s plans.
Even if he demands a trade from the franchise, according to a recent report, Dame is not interested in playing for a team with three superstars.
Keeping that in mind, Bill Simmons’ trade proposal may never become a reality. After all, if Lillard gets traded to the Timberwolves, he will play alongside Edwards and Gobert.
