Sixers: 5 teams that should trade for Ben Simmons
5 teams that should trade for Ben Simmons: Portland Trail Blazers
If the Sixers are willing to accept the CJ McCollum-Ben Simmons swap that every person on the internet pitched over the weekend, then Portland should jump on it as soon as humanly possible. Simmons is not only better than McCollum, but he’s a much better fit next to Damian Lillard, while Lillard is the perfect megastar to unlock Simmons’ unique skill set.
The Lillard-McCollum backcourt has never been palatable on defense, and Portland has clearly reached the end of its road with McCollum — not dissimilar to Simmons and Philadelphia. That duo has plainly reached its ceiling, while the Sixers will have a hard time convincing anyone they can contend while Simmons and Embiid share the court.
It really does make sense on paper, even if I’m skeptical of McCollum as the major haul in a Simmons trade. For Portland, Simmons would get to defer to the greatest late-game shot-maker in the NBA, while also running an up-tempo system with multiple high-level shooters at his disposal. The fit becomes even better if the Blazers can snatch Mike D’Antoni from Brooklyn.
Simmons and Lillard is a dream pair. This trade in and of itself may not win Portland a championship, but it would make them a much more balanced contender in the West. It would probably take another wing scorer next to Simmons and Lillard to make real noise, but for Portland, this is a golden opportunity if Sixers ownership is anxious to ship off Simmons.