Sixers Ben Simmons trade #2: Swapping for fit
It’s worth starting out this part by saying that no, I don’t think CJ McCollum or a fringe All-Star player is as good as Simmons. However, McCollum is somewhat slept on by Sixers fans. He’s definitely above the Hield/Brogdon centerpiece offers from the last slide.
McCollum is a 40 percent 3-point shooter who averaged a career high 23.1 points per game in the 2021 season. In terms of fit with Embiid, there’s a lot to like there. Unless the Sixers are able to acquire a Lillard or Bradley Beal-level talent, they’re not going to do better than McCollum from an offensive standpoint.
Point guard responsibilities could be on the table for McCollum if he were to come to Philadelphia as well. He’s started at the position throughout his career when Lillard hasn’t been on the floor. There are ways to take care of the Simmons loss defensively as well. The Sixers do have Embiid and Matisse Thybulle to take the sting off of a potential Simmons’ departure in that regard.
Portland desperately needs defensive help and could consider moving Simmons to the four or five to play with Lillard.
Per Marc Stein’s reporting, President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey isn’t interested in the Blazers’ two guard. It’s worth pointing out that the Stein report claims that Morey “longs” for Lillard, so it seems like discussions on other targets are on hold until the Lillard situation is resolved one way or another.
DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry in sign and trades wouldn’t shock me either, in addition to the potential McCollum swap.