Now that Ben Simmons has publicly stated his desire to play elsewhere and hit the Philadelphia 76ers with an ultimatum, things are as heated as ever in the City of Brotherly Love. With the Sixers now looking to make Joel Embiid the focal point of their franchise, they find themselves under pressure to surrounding him with as much All-Star talent as possible.
In an effort to maximize his championship window, the Sixers are looking to add another superstar to play alongside Embiid next season. When he's fully healthy, he is widely considered the most dominant center in the NBA, and with Simmons soon to be out of the picture, this now leaves a void that the Sixers must fill.
Let's take a look at two unhappy stars that the Sixers need to trade for to get more help for Embiid.
Sixers' possible targets:
Damian Lillard
Despite recently stating that he'd like to finish his career with the Portland Trail Blazers, Lillard has also expressed his displeasure with the team's inability to build a winning roster around him. After failing to advance to the NBA Finals once again last season, Lillard is looking to finish out his illustrious career competing for multiple titles and making a few runs to the Last Dance.
As one of the greatest scorers and playmakers the game has ever seen, Lillard would form an unstoppable pick-and-roll combo with Embiid and give the Sixers arguably the best superstar duo in the NBA. Between Embiid's low post dominance and Lillard's limitless scoring range and playmaking abilities, the Sixers would become an instant title contender and pose the biggest threat to the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Playoffs.
With a ton of uncertainty surrounding Lillard's desire to continue playing for the Trail Blazers and Simmons desperately wanting out, this is a trade that the Sixers should re-visit. Especially if they want to get over the hump and make a highly anticipated run to the NBA Finals.
Zion Williamson
With constant concerns and complaints from both Williamson and his family about the New Orleans Pelicans' failed efforts to get to him the help he needs, a trade could be looming in the near future. Particularly if the Pelicans fail to make the postseason once again. As a point-forward who's a dominant force of nature in the shaded area, Williamson would form one of the greatest big man pairings in NBA history with Embiid.
Between their power, defensive tenacity, and rebounding, they'd make for an overwhelming frontcourt tandem that would dominate the glass and lead the league in points in the paint. The pairing of Embiid and Williamson would give the Sixers an unstoppable twosome that would pick apart defenses on a nightly basis.
The Sixers pulling off this trade might seem like a long shot, but with Simmons wanting out and Williamson putting a ton of pressure on the Pelicans, this could be the perfect exchange that would give both guys a fresh start. With this trade, the Sixers could go all the way and maximize Embiid's championship window to the fullest extent.
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