Since the beginning of the Ben Simmons trade saga, countless teams have been linked to the situation in rumors. One of the more consistent names that appeared throughout the summer was the Portland Trail Blazers. Primarily because Damian Lillard sits atop Daryl Morey's wishlist, but both members of the Blazers' starting backcourt would be an ideal fit in Philadelphia.
Nothing came about between these two teams over the summer, but they remain a perfect pair of trade partners. As things currently stand, both rosters could benefit from a roster shakeup.
Neither team is off to the start they might have hoped. The Sixers sit just outside the playoff picture with a record of 11-11, while Portland's 11-12 mark lands them in ninth place in the Western Conference. On top of their lackluster start, behind-the-scenes affairs have resulted in a seismic change at the top of the Blazers' organization.
News broke early Friday afternoon that Portland has terminated General Manage Neil Oshey due to violations of the team's Code of Conduct. A deal is unlikely to surface while the team searches for a new GM, but the opportunity could be vastly approaching.
The Trail Blazers terminated GM Neil Olshey due to violations of the team’s Code of Conduct, team says. Director of Player Personnel Joe Cronin has been promoted to interim GM while Portland conducts search for replacement. https://t.co/vIyRunH2GO
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 3, 2021
Even with a new face coming in to run the Blazers' front office, it still feels like a Lillard trade is unlikely. That being said, a deal for CJ McCollum is something that might enter the realm of possibility.
Many analysts agreed a Simmons/McCollum swap is a deal that made sense for both sides, and it remains true. Both players provide a set of skills that could drastically improve the other team.
One area the Blazers need to desperately improve in is defense. They currently sit at 28th in the NBA in terms of defensive rating. What better player to add than the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year last season? Simmons' elite-level defense and versatility would instantly get the Blazers out of the conversation for the league's worst defense.
On the other side of things, the Sixers could greatly benefit from adding a high-powered guard like McCollum in the mix. Through 23 games, the 30-year-old is in the midst of his seventh-straight season averaging 20 or more points per game.
Adding McCollum to the fray would give the Sixers a dynamic offensive guard who can score on all three levels. Not to mention someone who is already comfortable playing off a star player. Having a perimeter player to hand the ball too late in games when a basket is needed is something the team has lacked since the departure of Jimmy Butler back in 2019.
While he might not have never made an All-Star team, McCollum plays at an All-Star level. He certainly fits the bill of the caliber of player Morey is looking for in exchange for Simmons.
Anything is still on the table regarding the Simmons saga. But based on recent events, the Blazers are a team Morey should monitor even more now.
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