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Portland’s all-time main scorer Damian Lillard was in attendance at Barclays Heart courtside because the Nets hosted the Sixers in Recreation 3, and the sighting was noteworthy to some across the league, who referenced Lillard’s affection for Nets gamers Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson courting again to a 2021 interview with Yahoo Sports activities.
“In the event you take a look at Phoenix, they don’t have a bunch of stars,” Lillard mentioned. “They bought people who find themselves actually good at what they do and perceive their roles. Chris Paul and Devin Booker are All-Stars, however Deandre Ayton is a top quality middle, Jae Crowder is an skilled, high quality stretch-four man that’s robust, Cam Johnson is good and Mikal Bridges is my favourite small ahead within the league. You simply take a look at how that crew is put collectively they usually’re within the Finals popping out of the West. That’s what my imaginative and prescient is.”
Along with Lillard’s reward of Bridges and Johnson, he publicly questioned whether or not Portland will proceed going younger or purchase extra veteran assist as a substitute.
If Lillard and Portland resolve a parting of how is greatest for each side, a number of NBA executives consider the Nets may very well be a suitor for the All-Star guard however had been not sure if Brooklyn may in the end land him in a commerce.
“Dame could be the chief they (Nets) want,” an NBA govt advised HoopsHype. “I’m simply undecided they’ve the items to get him, however they need to strive. The picks they’ve coming in aren’t nice. It could most likely take Ben Simmons’ contract to make the numbers work, however you’d have to connect picks to him on high of the picks you want for Lillard.”
With a number of first-round picks acquired from Phoenix and Dallas within the Durant and Irving trades, Brooklyn can attempt to bundle these future property together with a wing rotation participant comparable to Finney-Smith or O’Neale, and an expiring contract comparable to Spencer Dinwiddie or Joe Harris that comes off the books in the summertime of 2024. Cam Thomas may be a younger asset to assist transfer the needle for a commerce.
As the chief alluded to, buying and selling Simmons would doubtless value Brooklyn so as to add extra picks since he’s owed a mixed $78.2 million over the following two seasons, and his worth is as little as ever.
“I can see the Nets going for Dame, however he’s older, and that contract is so excessive,” one other NBA govt advised HoopsHype. “He may very well be price a few firsts and a very good younger participant.”
Finally, quite a few groups across the league will control Lillard and will outbid the Nets for his providers ought to a bidding battle come up.
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