Sixers

Damian Lillard Has Surgery in Philadelphia

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Jan 13th, 2022 · 11:01 AM EST

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NBA nugget:

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard tells @YahooSports that he “feels good” after undergoing successful surgery on his abdomen this morning in Philadelphia – which was performed by Dr. William C. Meyers – and he is now expected to be re-evaluated in 5-6 weeks.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 13, 2022

Dame knows what’s up. Not only does Philly have the best basketball fans, but the best abdomen surgeons as well. Hopefully he stays in Philadelphia for a little bit while recovering, so he can get a feel for the town and then DEMAND a trade to the Sixers.

The Blazers are 16-24 and 10th in the Western Conference right now. They fired their general manager and now Lillard is on the shelf. If he’s not going to be re-evaluated in five to six weeks, then that takes you past the February 10th trade deadline, so it would be a George Hill type of situation if the Sixers did eventually work a move for Lillard. I make the Hill/Lillard comparison because the Sixers brought in the former during a post-surgery recovery period, and it took him some time to even get on the floor. He never got settled here.

In that sense, Lillard’s contribution to a possible 2022 playoff run might be iffy. It could end up being a move that looks to the future, as Lillard is currently in year one of a max extension that takes him to 2025. The final year is a player option year.

Maybe Lillard’s injury situation changes his thinking and the Blazers’ thinking. And if it does open up a Simmons trade, the Sixers need to ask themselves if they’re alright taking back a guy who might not play again until the spring, or next year.