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Stephen A. said that the Blazers need to get Damian Lillard out of Portland.
Stephen A. Smith says that it is time for Damian Lillard to leave the team. (1:45)
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Sources told ESPN that the Portland Trail blazers are not interested in trading for the Philadelphia 76ers' top target, All-NBA guard Damian Lillard.
Portland's interim general manager Joe Cronin told Philadelphia that the franchise's plans remain to continue building around Lillard as a cornerstone, sources said.
In talks centered on Simmons, the 76ers are becoming much more engaged. Sources said that Philadelphia has been trying to assemble two- and three-team deal structures to deliver a package that would include a top 25-level player.
Many players signed in the off-season as free agents become eligible to be traded on Wednesday. Almost all of the players under contract can be included into deals. The league's players are eligible for a majority of the time.
Around the start of the team's training camp, Lillard made it clear that he wanted to remain in Portland. After the firing of Neil Olshey, the franchise plans to continue building the organization around the player. Sources said that the Blazers had been open to discussing a deal for Simmons centered on guardCJ McCollum, but that conversation never got traction.
Simmons hasn't played for Philadelphia this season because of mental health issues. He requested a trade after the loss to Atlanta.
Bobby Marks was a contributor to this report.
