It has been more than two weeks since the NBA teams began reaching deals of signing contracts and making trades. Three players, Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers and Buddy Hield of the Sacramento Kings, all used to be in the center of trade talks.
However, none of them were traded in the end. Simmons reportedly refused to talk to the 76ers. Lillard did not see Portland respond to his request of making the squad better. Hield watched the Kings select the fourth guard with the ninth pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
How did this happen?
Ben Simmons (#25) of the Philadelphia 76ers drives toward the rim in Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, June 18, 2021. /CFP
Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on in Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference first-round playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, U.S., June 3, 2021. /CFP
Buddy Hield (#24) of the Sacramento Kings shoots in the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, U.S., April 21, 2021. /CFP
Host: Li Xiang
Guest: Matthew Watson
Cover designer: Feng Yuan
Chief editor: Chen Ran
Supervisor: Zhang Shilei