Andre Ingram‘s basketball career included six NBA games as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers and many, many more games in the G League, where he has gone down as the person with the most career games played and the most made three-pointers in league history. Now, Ingram gets to add something else to his collection of career accolades: Wheel of Fortune winner.
Ingram, who is still suiting up for the South Bay Lakers, appeared as one of the contestants on Friday’s episode of the show, and he didn’t just do well, he managed to win big. Thanks to some good fortune on the first two puzzles of the night, Ingram ended up taking home $31,750. In second place, Megan won a very impressive $19,855, and in third, Thipp took home $6,800.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about his big payday is that Ingram did it without winning anything in the bonus round. After getting the usual RSTLNE, Ingram picked the letters GCPO, setting up this:
YouTube
As Pat Sajak said, getting one more letter would have helped Ingram out in a big way. He figured out immediately that the first word was “FIERCE,” but Sajak’s prediction was correct, and Ingram was unable to get “BLIZZARD.” As a result, he did not add $39,000 to his final total.
Still, this is an impressive chunk of change for Ingram. It is debatable whether or not it is as impressive as spending more than a decade in the NBA G League and, upon playing in your first NBA game with the Lakers, you score 19 points and earn praise from the late Kobe Bryant.
Popeyes might have a problem on its hand. It has, unquestionably, the best chicken sandwich in the fast food universe and for two years every fast food chain — and yes we mean every fast food chain — has been swiping for the top spot. Nobody has come close, but what about the few fast food chains that are at least competitive with Popeyes?
In our definitive ranking of the best fast food chicken sandwiches, Shake Shack, Church’s, Jollibee, and Wendy’s filled out the top five, just under Popeyes. If one of those other brands were to drop an exciting new chicken sandwich, suddenly that top spot is back in play, right?
Popeyes knows this. It’s why they dropped this year’s Hottie Sauce Chicken Sandwich and got Megan Thee Stallion to promote it. I called the sandwich an improvement over the original. But there is a new kid on the block, or well, three new kids technically.
Church’s — our number three pick for best chicken sandwich — has just unveiled a trio of new sandwiches, the Texas-Cut Bacon Chicken Sandwich trio. The bacon-adorned trio is available at Church’s chicken restaurants nationwide until December 26th, so if you want to get your hands on one of these sandwiches, you’ll have to move fast.
We tried the whole flight so you know where to best spend your money, and more importantly, how they stack up against the GOAT. Let’s eat!
Texas-Cut Bacon Chicken Sandwich
Dane Rivera
The OG Church’s Chicken Sandwich consists of a breaded chicken breast filet on a mayo-smeared bun with thick crinkle-cut pickles, so the only thing that makes the Texas-Cut Bacon version different is the inclusion of bacon. It’s not a big change, but a chicken sandwich with bacon is superior to the same chicken sandwich without bacon every single time, so this is an easy win for Church’s.
The breast filet here is massive and on all three occasions juicy with a crunchy and craggy pepper-forward batter that strikes the perfect balance of the meat-to-breading ratio. The bacon itself is good, but it leaves a bit to be desired. It’s not as thick and glorious as Church’s press photos would suggest, these are unfortunately very thin pieces of bacon, but they add a nice smokey flavor to the whole sandwich, and for $1 more you can get double the bacon. Definitely do that.
How Does It Compare To Popeyes?
The inclusion of bacon elevates this chicken sandwich, but not quite to the heights of what Popeyes has going for them. If we were to redo our ranking today, we’d still give Shake Shack its well-deserved number two spot. But Church’s is definitely onto something.
Texas-Cut Bacon Smoky Honey-Q Chicken Sandwich
Dane Rivera
The Honey-Q is Church’s answer to Popeyes Megan Thee Stallion Hottie Chicken Sandwich. It features a new sauce —Honey-Q — that attempts to blend the smokey and sweet flavors of BBQ with honey mustard and what Church’s calls “Texas seasoning.” Not really sure what that means, but overall this sandwich has an artificially smokey flavor that I just can’t get down with.
It’s a shame because the sauce on its own is pretty good, I’d love to use it as a dip, but when paired with the already smokey bacon this thing just comes off as overly smoked. It doesn’t have balance like the other two sandwiches in this review and that’s what makes it not quite as good as the Popeyes sandwich it’s trying to imitate.
This flavor isn’t without its merits though, as I said the sauce is good. So here’s the play: Order the Texas-Cut Bacon Spicy Chicken Sandwich with a side of Honey-Q and then dip. This will allow you to control the sauce distribution and will keep it from becoming overwhelming.
How Does It Compare To Popeyes?
It has some things going for it and we’re happy Church’s is stepping out of their comfort zone by dropping a radically reimagined chicken sandwich. Definitely worth ordering if you’re curious, but keep your expectations in check.
Texas-Cut Bacon Spicy Chicken Sandwich
Dane Rivera
The Spicy version of the Texas-cut swaps out the mayo for a much more delicious and complex spicy mayo, and it makes the sandwich significantly better. The spicy mayo leans on the slightly sweet side, to my taste buds it’s a mix of Sriacha and mayo with a bit of cayenne pepper which pairs really nicely with Church’s black pepper-forward batter.
It strangely helps to highlight some hidden sweet notes that I’ve never noticed in this sandwich. But before things get too sweet the smokiness of the bacon balances things out, resulting in crunchy bite after crunchy bite of balanced hot, sweet, and smokey flavors. It’s not the spiciest chicken sandwich you’ll ever have, but it’s one of the most flavorful on the market. Church’s often gives you a side of fried Jalapeño poppers with every order of their spicy sandwich. Definitely put those poppers into your sandwich if you love flavor. It’ll add a bit more of a spicy kick, more crunch, and ooey-gooey cheese, which can never be a bad thing.
How Does It Compare To Popeyes?
This sandwich comes incredibly close to being as good as Popeyes, but at the end of the day we’re still going to have to give it to the GOAT. Popeyes batter just has a better flavor, there are notes of garlic and onion powder that this Church’s sandwich just doesn’t have. Having said that, this one has bacon, so if you have a craving for the smokey crunch of bacon, that’s something Popeyes just can’t satiate.
The Bottom Line
Here’s the thing, at the end of the day I still think Popeyes makes a better chicken sandwich. But ultimately, it’s going to come down to whether or not you want bacon. If you want a chicken sandwich that is piled high with bacon, order the Church’s Texas-Cut Bacon Spicy Chicken Sandwich with extra bacon. You can’t get that at Popeyes, and you’ll probably never be able to.
The sandwich — especially when smartly hacked — is delicious enough that you won’t miss or even think about the Popeyes sandwich. Even if it isn’t quite as good.
When picturing a doctor’s office, you might imagine a less than warm atmosphere. Those oh-so-lovely fluorescent lights instantly come to my mind.
Imagine if a doctor told you, “I want to design our visit in a way that makes you feel most comfortable.” Suddenly that annual check-up doesn’t sound so dreadful after all.
Dr. Ryan Stewart, a urogynecologist at the Midwest Center for Pelvic Health, recently asked women to weigh in on the redesign of his office.
Posting the question to Twitter, we wrote: “I have the opportunity to design my office from scratch. I’m asking women. How would you design/optimize a visit to the gynecologist’s office? No detail is too small.”
His tweet ended with “If I’ve ever had a tweet worthy of virality, it’s this one.”
And boy was he right. His tweet nearly instantly received thousands of replies. Turns out, there are a lot of ways to improve a visit to the gyno.
Including:
Empathy toward sexual trauma
Acknowledgement that sexual trauma histories can make exams psychologically overwhelming for many. I’d feel safer if it wasn’t dismissed as “everyone needs these exams, it’s no big deal.” It is a big deal! Empathy would help in improving our sense of safety & reducing avoidance.
This includes starting the exam off asking if a patient has any trauma, and not dismissing feelings of discomfort, according to commenters.
Improved privacy
No one should ever have to discuss any aspect of their care with anyone (I’m thinking nurse, receptionist) within earshot of other patients. Also, patients should not be able to listen to phone calls or dictation. You wouldn’t believe the things I’ve heard while sitting.
— Dr. Erin MacLean MD OB/GYN (ret’d) (@macdoin) December 5, 2021
As part of improved privacy, many advocated to not be asked if an intern can observe while the intern is still in the room.
“It’s hard to say no to them,” one person wrote.
Another added “I’m sitting on the table in the gown and [the gyno] brings in this young guy and says ‘you don’t mind him observing this do you?’ I consented but have been pissed off ever since and never went back to her.”
One person mentioned that their current doctor recently swapped the thin, exposing paper gown for spa style robes, adding both privacy and a dash of luxury.
This suggestion comes aptly timed, as the diagram (above) of a black fetus recently inspired a viral conversation. Many were noting that they had never seen one in medical imagery before.
One person remarked, “I am 53 years old and have never seen myself represented in anything in a doctor’s office, even pamphlets. Change that!”
Mental health screenings
make screening for depression, domestic abuse, human trafficking, anxiety and PPD a normal part of your exam practice. my normal doc screens at every physical for depression, its just normal. Check in on emotional effects of birth control
Waiting until the clothes are ON to disclose important info
Don’t discuss care or diagnoses when people are naked, I remember how much more respected and comfortable I felt when a new gynaecologist introduced himself to me while I was clothed, did the exam, then had me get dressed and meet him in his office to discuss care! Much better!
— B Davie is officially boosted 💉💉💉 (@davieledgerwood) December 5, 2021
Bottom line: It’s already a vulnerable time. Let people have a moment to get comfortable.
One person added “I have always had to specifically ask to be able to talk to my doctor clothed first. Even when I hadn’t met that doctor yet. I feel like that should be default, not up to me to ask for. It’s such a power imbalance already, don’t add unnecessary vulnerability.”
Ditching the pink
It’s super trivial, but…
Not every place that’s intended for women to inhabit needs to be pink. There are other colors.
— Girl Geek for Getting Shaq some Magenta FFS (@girlgeek_rva) December 5, 2021
To some, it’s mildly annoying. To others, it’s even triggering.
One person tweeted, “I went through a breast cancer scare, & EVERY women’s medical office I went to–pink EVERYWHERE. I was at a really terrified moment in my life, & pink, pink, pink. I 100% can’t stand it anymore.”
Offering pain meds
From my non-Twitter-using wife: offer painkillers. Don’t make people ask/have to know to ask. Anyone getting a cervical biopsy should be offered the same suite of painkillers and anxiety drugs I was for my vasectomy.
Potentially painful procedures like IUD insertions or cervical biopsies typically only offer medication upon request. This Twitter user suggested offering them, making it clear that the patient has the option.
More accessibility in the exam and waiting rooms
Find women who are wheelchair/cane/walker/prosthetic users, and ask them what they need most. Wider hallways, exam tables that actually DO lower, more than one bathroom that is fully handicap friendly BY HANDICAP USERS CHECKLIST- not some random contractor. Furniture where a 1
— its still a Holly Jolly Pandemic, folks! (@HTTOrganizers) December 5, 2021
Tables that lower for those with mobility issues as well as higher waiting room chairs were among the most frequently suggested items.
And lastly … a variety of speculum sizes
A wide variety of speculum sizes, and introduction to the exam room including a play by play of how the visit will go. Most people never get this and the office staff never ask if it’s their first exam and most people wouldn’t disclose fear or stress if they have it.
The general Twitter consensus: and while you’re at it, warm them up too.
Dr. Stewart’s tweet did receive constructive criticism asking for more inclusion
I would not just ask women. I’m not a woman and GYN care is essential to my health.
Physical space is important, but invest in comprehensive training for your staff to ensure the safety of BIPOC, queer, disabled, and other marginalized patients. This is essential.
Dr. Stewart welcomed the insight, sending a follow-up tweet that read:
“Folks have [correctly] pointed out that I [incorrectly] said “women” when what I should have said was “folks who may need gynecologic care.” I named the practice with this in mind @midwestpelvis, but I find that I still have a lot of internalized/implicit bias.”
This viral thread might have started a trend. Soon after another medical practitioner tweeted:
“Love urogynecologist Dr. Stewart asking for input on ideal office design and wanted to ask the oncology community something similar: given that no one wants to come to a cancer doctor…what makes the experience MOST comfortable?”
Though Dr. Stewart describes his philosophy online as “I want you to leave every appointment feeling as though you’ve learned more about yourself,” it’s lovely to see that he is equally invested in learning about his patients as well.
Brian Teasdale, loving father and gifted musician, wrote his baby girl a special lullaby to coax her into sleep. That sweet, soothing tune was simply titled “Little Girl.”
According to Radio Today, Teasdale had been a prolific creative all his life, making beautiful works just like his daughter’s lullaby. Then, 10 years ago, he suffered from a brain injury in a brutal assault, and could no longer compose music.
Earlier this year, his daughter Karen Robson received the news that her father had contracted COVID-19, and she was told his days might be numbered. Robson found the absolute best way to honor her father, by bringing his music back to life.
Determined to make it happen, she reached out to her local radio station (BBC Radio Newscastle) and asked for their help in recreating Teasdale’s “Little Girl” song.
Music students from Sunderland College teamed up under the band name “Brian and the Buttercups,” and made their own version based on Teasdale’s original.
The freshly made tune has all those endearing nostalgia-worthy sounds: a vintage-y record crackle, soft ukulele (at least I think it’s a ukulele … whatever instrument it is, it’s lovely), a kind of lilting, wistful male singer. And of course, Teasdale’s love for his daughter still shines through in the touching lyrics.
You can listen to it here. It’s easy to see why his Robson remembers this childhood gem so fondly.
On Friday, December 3, a father’s little lullaby—made 56 years ago—found its way to the public when it played on the radio. And it received a huge reaction from listeners. Sunderland College reported that the station received numerous calls asking where they could purchase the song.
Tony Wilson, Sunderland College Music Lecturer, even secured a record deal with Sapien Records Ltd. The single was released, complete with cover art based on a photo of Robson as a child. Talk about a pleasant surprise.
Karen Robson was understandably moved. She said on the air:
“I’m absolutely overwhelmed and I can’t thank everyone enough; Sunderland College, BBC Radio Newcastle; everybody who has helped do this for my dad. This song means everything to me and now everyone can hear it. It’s an absolute dream.”
But she wasn’t the only one touched. BBC Radio Newcastle’s on-air host Gilly Hope shared how she immediately knew the original recording was “special,” as it brought the entire studio to tears. But even she didn’t anticipate how masterful the re-recording would be.
“The brilliant music degree students and staff at Sunderland College did a fantastic job on the track – their version made us all cry all over again. Like so many of the best bits of radio, it started with a listener calling in to tell us her story and we were thrilled to be a part of making such a difference to Karen and her dad,” she said.
Robson’s tribute to her father is a heartwarming metaphor for how parents pass down their legacy. These stories, traditions and memories continue to live on long after they’ve passed.
They might take on new life, however one thing remains the same: love, just like that lullaby created all those years ago, is always timeless.
Four students were killed. Seven were injured, including a teacher. This is what’s known about the tragic mass shooting that took place at Oxford High School in Michigan on November 30.
A new detail has been uncovered, however. And where it doesn’t make the story any less devastating, it can certainly provide a step toward a real solution. And that’s worth taking note.
You’ve probably seen a Nightlock device without recognizing it. They’re industrial grade locks that you can add to your home, your business front, really anywhere at risk of a break-in. On its website, the company has an entire section titled “Protect Your Campus,” dedicated to providing extra-long barricade devices for schools.
The co-founder of Nightlock, Jack Taylor, told local news station Mid-Michigan NOW that nearly 700 of these special door stops were installed inside the Oxford School District. That means each classroom had at least one.
In other words: these locks helped save lives. They played a pivotal role in preventing more deaths and injuries, and kept the situation from becoming much, much worse.
Having discovered this, droves of grateful parents have been reaching out to personally thank Nightlock.
“We’re so grateful for what you did and I hope you know that what you do saved so many kids,” said Carri Morris, an Oxford High School parent.
“Nightlock worked,” said Rick Morris, another Oxford parent, adding that “they should be in every building, in every school.”
Oxford parents credit Nightlock with saving kids’ lives | The Donlon Report
Taylor mentioned the company had been selling the locks to schools for nine years, though never imagined them being used in this horrific context.
“We hope that they’re never used, they’re just there for extra support. They’re there in case there’s an emergency lockdown,” he told reporters.
The Oxford shooting was the first scenario in which the barricades were used during an active shooting. And now it’s state law in Michigan to have a Nightlock type device in schools. The legislation was passed strictly to protect against further violence that might happen.
“It just breaks our hearts. When we first got into this business we knew we could help. We were in the residential barricade business, helping protect people’s homes, but when we started working with the schools and protecting people in schools it was a new mission,” said Taylor.
Where it’s incredibly heartbreaking that we continue to struggle with gun violence, at least there’s a solution that seems easily implemented. I shudder to think about the sterile, dystopian feel that things like Nightlock door barricades, metal detectors and other security devices provide school environments. Yet the alternative is unquestionably worse. It’s just sad that it’s come down to one of those two options.
If we can’t come to any real agreement on gun safety measures, hopefully we can at least have these security devices installed in every school throughout the country.
Though Taylor might have never envisioned this sort of purpose for his company’s products, we are all very grateful to Nightlock for taking on this new mission to provide safety for students. School should be a place of learning and growing, not fear.
“I’ve had my eyes on the Flatbush Zombies for sometime now,” RZA said in a statement. And when the RZA speaks, people listen. It’s hard to believe that the Brooklyn crew and the Staten Island producer had never linked in the past, given how Flatbush Zombies’ penchant for the macabre seems so aligned with RZA’s cinematic aesthetic. But now here they are, two NYC entities born in different eras, at the start of a new collaborative arc.
In the new “Plug Addicts” clip, the “glorious dead” Meechy Darko, Zombie Juice, Erick Arc Elliott, and The RZA are all dressed like Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs as they take turns dropping a verse. The video is sinister to say the least, and even culminates with RZA’s slasher re-enactment of Michael Madsen’s Mr. Blonde torture scene from the movie. They all play off of each other fluidly on the mic and the production sounds eerily similar to a certain project from the past. “Their style of dark hip hop lyricism is reminiscent of my days in the Gravediggaz,” RZA remarked about the Zombies. “This type of collaboration was overdue,”.
This is the first of their two singles, with another called “Quentin Tarantino” due on December 17th. Flatbush Zombies’ Eric Arc Elliott added some words on the collab:
“In a lot of ways I saw RZA in myself, as a fellow producer/artist. We are making history together at this very moment. The music he’s made over the course of his career had a lot to do with why I wanted to make music in the first place, it’s beautiful to see these things come full circle.”
Watch the video for “Plug Addicts” above and be on the lookout for “Quentin Tarantino” next week.
While it might not hit the streaming service prior to the highly-anticipated premiere of Spider-Man: No Way Homeon December 17, we now have a release date for Marvel’s Eternals— and it might be quite a bit nearer than you expected. Disney+ has officially announced director Chloe Zhao’s first (and incredibly ambitious) entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will hit the streaming service on January 12, 2022, just two months after it first released in theaters (via The Wrap).
Though it might seem a bit quick, this schedule keeps in line with the release window previously seen with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which premiered on September 3 before moving to Disney+ on November 12. Ultimately, that means this could very well be the pattern we come to expect from the company with future releases — assuming they don’t revert back to simultaneously release as was the case with both Mulanand Black Widow. However, seeing as the Black Widow premiere was, uh, rife with conflict, it seems likely that won’t ever be the case again.
Once on Disney+, Eternals will be available to all subscribers free of charge. This even includes the film’s IMAX Enhanced mode, which shifts Eternals’ aspect ratio to an IMAX format when Zhao’s designated IMAX sequences kick in.
Set after the events of Avengers: Endgame (well, mostly), Eternals delves into the creation and preservation of the Marvel universe through the eyes of an elite group of celestial beings known as the Eternals. As old as time itself, these guardians serve humanity by protecting them from demonic beings known as Deviants — until their mission and loyalties suddenly change.
Despite a compelling plot, an Oscar-winning director, and an all-star cast featuring Gemma Chan, Lauren Ridloff, Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Kumail Nanjiani, Richard Madden, Don Lee, Barry Keoghan, Brian Tyree Henry, and Kit Harrington, Eternals didn’t sit too terribly well with critics, earning the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score an MCU movie has ever received with a lukewarm 63%. However, the film was still considered a financial success, grossing around $385 million worldwide.
At the intersection of hip-hop, pop and punk, Jean Dawson really stands out as an emerging multi-faceted artist. Last year’s PixelBath showcased a full-on genre-blender with a palpable energetic and highly-relatable angst reminiscent of Kid Cudi, Willow, and Bartees Strange. He dropped the documentary Burnout, that gave a window into his creative process, has been shouted out by Travis Barker and is set to go out on tour supporting Brockhampton next year.
Now with “Menthol*,” Dawson has tabbed his pal Mac DeMarco to play guitar on the jam. DeMarco provides a steady riff for Dawson to simply let go on the track in the most powerful way. You can really feel him losing himself in the music and it’s this type of visceral expression that’s going to keep drawing attention to his output. Dawson shared a statement on the song:
“I’ve just been wanting to scream all the time – not out of anger or any emotion I can pinpoint but just scream at the top of my lungs at nothing. I don’t know if the song represents that at all but the song is just where I’m at with s***. I think I fully lost my ability to care about s*** I don’t care about and it’s truly beautiful. I guess I’m really infatuated with the chaoticness that comes with the idea of tomorrow”
There’s beauty in that imbalance he describes and as the song comes to a close, a voicemail from DeMarco to Dawson plays, offering a parting note of comfort: “Jean, it’s Mac D. Just dropping you a line today to remind you that you should take it easy on yourself. Enjoy what you’re doing. And if you stop enjoying it at some point, hey..no problem. Don’t do it anymore. God Bless you. Love you. Ciao.”
Want to do your part to be kinder to the environment and also shop for your loved ones this holiday? Take a look at this list of eco-friendly products that include long-lasting, plastic-free, sustainably sourced or repurposed gifts that your family and the planet will appreciate. Shopping at Upworthy Market means directly supporting the artisans who craft their products, so with every purchase, you do good.
With brown and earth-tone hues that evoke autumn, this journal is handcrafted of recycled paper by Mexican artisan Indira Flores. She applies the designs using colors from the bougainvillea flower, lining the spine with black leather. The journal opens to 93 pages of recycled paper.
A sophisticated addition to any office desk, this calendar is the perfect accent for marking the passage of time. Never out of style, the calendar is handcrafted from local rain tree wood by Thailand’s Waraporn Khamsuk, and consists of a stand that houses numbered tiles resting just below month tiles. Each tile is made so that it can be removed and replaced with another, capable of displaying every day of the year.
Akwele Suma designs earrings of maritime charm in a festive red hue. She recycles paper by folding it into boats with terracotta masts and recycled plastic bead anchors. These Ghanaian handcrafted earrings exude playful naivete and an eco-conscious mindset. The artist uses the paper at hand so paper colors will vary, making each design a unique example of handcrafted art. The beads receive a protective coat of clear nail polish.
Dedicated to the use of eco-friendly materials, El Salvador’s María Ruffatti designs this sleek and simple sling handbag. The bag is handcrafted from recycled rubber and drapes over the shoulder on a single adjustable strap. A pocket at the front opens with a magnetic snap for storing small items. The bag’s main compartment opens with a zipper, revealing a lined interior with an open pocket on one side.
This colorful shoulder bag comes from Maria Isabel Ramos in Guatemala. The eco-savvy designer knows the metalized wrappers used for sweets and chips are not biodegradable; therefore, in an effort to preserve the environment, she transforms them into a trendy accessory. “My favorite color is silver, but I also like bright colors,” says Ramos of this shoulder bag. Entirely crafted by hand, the bag is lined with cotton and features an inner pocket.
The kalimba, or African thumb piano, is easy to play and pleasing to the ear. Crafted from hollow coconut shell and painted in bright colors, it features a sea turtle on the front. The kalimba produces an array of varied tones when the stainless steel “leaves” are plucked with the thumb. This petite and portable instrument is perfect for reproducing elements and tones of tribal music with ease, and is presented by Trisna Dewi.
Working to clean up oceans and waterways, recycle, and employ the local community, Ocean Sole of Kenya creates amazing sculptures from recycled flip-flops. This colorful whale shark sculpture is formed and hand-carved from approximately nine flip-flops, and can take as long as seven hours to create.
Damian Lillard’s future has been a topic of conversation in recent months, but apparently, the Portland Trail Blazers’ star isn’t going anywhere. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Blazers have made clear in conversations with the Philadelphia 76ers that they plan on appeasing Lillard’s desire to stick around and try to build something in Portland.
The Portland Trail Blazers have made clear to the 76ers that All-NBA guard Damian Lillard is not available to be discussed in trade talks and franchise has no interest in moving him, sources tell ESPN.
Lillard has repeatedly expressed his commitment to want to remain in Portland on his current long-term contract, and interim GM Joe Cronin has also expressed a strong commitment to continue building the franchise around the All-NBA guard.
As for why this is popping up now, Philly finds itself in the midst of trying to find a trade that sends All-NBA guard/forward Ben Simmons somewhere else. This has been the case all season long — Simmons has not taken the floor for the Sixers this season due to his desire to seek greener pastures — but Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe report that their efforts to find a trade have ramped up in recent days due to the fact that players who signed new contracts over the summer become eligible to be traded starting on Dec. 15.
ESPN reporting with @ZachLowe_NBA: Philadelphia’s trade conversations on Ben Simmons gathering momentum in recent days. More teams engaged, more two and three-way deal structure talks ongoing as 76ers try to land a Top 25 player for Simmons.
Much of the renewed impetus surrounds Wednesday, when 84 percent of the league’s 446 players become eligible to be traded. Right now, 65 percent are eligible to be moved. https://t.co/f2nYMp353z
It is not guaranteed, of course, that the Sixers get anything back for Simmons right on the 15th, as Daryl Morey has stressed that the team is willing to play the long game with the hopes of getting a superstar. But in the event they are able to find a move in the next week or so, it would appear that any deal with Portland would have to include someone other than Lillard.
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