NBA rumors: Thunder could make a run at Damian Lillard
Since the first day of free agency, Lillard has had his sights set on palm trees and sandy beaches. Yet, Portland and Miami have made zero progress on a deal. Senior writer for Sports Illustrated, Chris Mannix knows one team that could woo the Blazers, sweep Joe Cronin off his feet, and rescue Lillard from Portland. However, it's far from Miami.
During the Crossover NBA Podcast, Mannix said, "I believe I'm going to call this an educated opinion. That if Dame is still on that Blazers roster in January. And if OKC is overachieving. If they're playing really well, don't be surprised if they go out and make a run at Lillard."
The Thunder already have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey. They just drafted Cason Wallace. It's a guard-heavy roster. However, the Thunder certainly have the pieces in place to make a run at Lillard, but that decision comes down to how big of a splash they want to make in 2023.
Here's the deal: The Thunder are flush with first round draft picks, which is why they're involved in any trade discussion currently taking place in the NBA. They have 35 draft picks in the next seven years -- including 15 first-rounders. So, the keyword here is, "if OKC is overachieving." Don't expect OKC to make a move for Lillard unless their season goes very well. In that case, they could afford to gamble on Lillard and part ways with some of their draft picks.
The Thunder are young and, as a result, focus on player development. If you're Lillard, that's exactly the situation he's looking to leave behind. However, keyword, if OKC can convince themselves they're contenders, come January, all is subject to change.
NBA rumors: Joel Embiid to play more
In a recent interview, Sixers coach Nick Nurse was asked how he plans to manage Joel Embiid considering the revised resting policy. You would think, given his response, that Nurse is excited about the changed rules.
Per Nurse:
"I think that we are looking at it maybe a little different than people think we might be. We're trying to get him to play more games. Our goal is that it's going up for him, not not the other direction, and some people would say, 'Oh, that's playoffs. Is he going to be?' We're just trying to get it going the other direction."
Oddly enough, these rules may work for NBA coaches instead of against them. In the same interview, Nurse talked about his love of music and guitar. Clearly, the 76ers head coach knows the power of rhythm and how much that translates into playing high-quality basketball. Before moving onto the next question, Nurse said, "I believe in the guys playing as much as they can and let's see what happens."
The Sixers have been plagued with second-round playoff exits, losing five times in the second round with Embiid alone. Hopefully, Nick Nurse can alleviate their postseason suffering. With Nurse's help, the Sixers have the potential to make a deep playoff run and finally get over the hump.
NBA rumors: John Collins throws shade
After six seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, John Collins was traded to the Utah Jazz this summer. During his NBA career, Collins averaged 13.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 blocks per game. However, compared to the 2019-20 season, when Collins averaged a career-best 21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds, his stats have declined.
Collins' latest Instagram post is the first time he's commented on his departure from Atlanta. However, he doesn't just thank the Hawks organization. In fact, he took some shots, Collins wrote, "it is this hawks time to fly away from the nest. As my growth is being stunted."
Clearly, there are a lot of emotions there, which is understandable, considering Collins spent his entire career in Atlanta. However, a change of scenery is best for Collins' career. CBS's Brad Botkin weighed in on Collins' time in Atlanta, claiming, "Collins has lived in trade rumors over the past few years, but the Hawks' previous front office, led by Travis Schlenk, never pulled the trigger as it waited on a more attractive deal that never came." In return for Collins, the Hawks get cap relief and a cushy $25M trade exception, which is helpful to have during what Botkin calls "increasingly belt-tightening times."
The 1-2 punch of Trae Young and John Collins led Atlanta to the playoffs the past three seasons and even all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. We've seen what the Jazz can do with Lauri Markannen's All-Star transformation. Now, Collins has a similar opportunity to re-establish himself in the league.
