I dunno - Philly could probably use him. He can play at the PG position as a SG while Simmons handles the ball. Particularly if they're about to lose JJ Redick. If they offered a package including NW native Fultz and that Miami pick they just acquired off Phoenix....
Philly is now in direct competition with Boston, who beat them WITHOUT their two star FA acquisitions. So Philly needs to upgrade. (Of course, if they get Kawhi, then never mind.)
While Lillard is a shooter and can play off the ball at times. Therefore it's not even close to the same as Simmons and LBJ would be...
CJ & Lillard work because CJ is a 40% three point shooter. Guy is a dead eye if he gets his feet set.
Also...
After watching Simmons allow straight line drive after straight line drive in the playoffs... I seriously doubt his ability to be a great defender.
I'd say he's no better than Beasley in this department.
No one is saying it is easy to find someone like Dame. I'd ove to keep him but with where the franchise is and the cap restrictions Neil has brought them to, it's not really fair. If he is up to stay, would love to have him.
Or the logic is, since you're not winning either way, reset and get out of salary cap hell so in a few years, when you have might have a chance to compete again, your players aren't on the wetting side of 30.
Bigger picture.
Bigger picture. Yeah lets talk about that again.
How long will Portland fans sit through a 'trust the process' rebuild? Philly fans get tired of it after 3 years and started showing up(if they made the trip to the arena) with bags on their faces.
Bigger picture is not only winning a championship.
Bigger picture is also how much income the arena can generate for the team, for the food vendors, and frankly for the city.
I wouldn't pay spend 1 penny on a team I know that has no chance of winning games.
I'd also lay you 5-1 there are more people like me, than people who want to watch china-league level basketball at the NBA level.
In fact. history has shown that to be true. Given attendance levels for winning teams vs losing teams.
People think because of 2k it's just a couple years of losing when you do a full rebuild. That nothing else matters.
What they don't understand is that the NBA is a business as well. Tanking your business is not a good model. Personally I want the Blazers in Portland for my entire life. Therefore intentionally tanking year after year is not an option.