All offseason, the basketball community has asked one question: What is going to happen with Ben Simmons? The former number one overall pick has made it abundantly clear that he has no intentions of returning to the Philadelphia 76ers. General manager Daryl Morey has actively been in trade discussions all summer, but an enticing deal has yet to come about.
Throughout the trade saga, multiple teams have been linked to the situation. One of the more notable squads being mentioned are the Portland Trail Blazers. Damian Lillard was Morey's top prize this offseason, but the All-Star guard opted to remain in Rip City.
Lillard's partner in the backcourt has also been thrown around in discussions. When the talk of the Sixers potentially trading their All-Star guard first emerged, multiple analysts felt a swap of Simmons and CJ McCollum was fair for both sides.
Now, as teams are preparing for the start of training camp, McCollum's name has surfaced yet again. Stephen A. Smith recently said on First Take that the Trail Blazers have discussed a package for Simmons centered around their starting shooting guard.
“The Portland Trail Blazers, from what I'm told, they're talking about CJ McCollum, Robert Covington, and a couple of first-round picks.”
Part of why the Simmons saga has carried on this long is Morey's asking price. He has maintained his stance on wanting an All-Star caliber player in return for Simmons, and rightfully so. With Joel Embiid in the prime years of his career, the Sixers need win-now pieces that complement their franchise big man.
While McCollum might not have any All-Star nominations to his credit, he certainly plays at that level. Last season, he posted career-highs in both points (23.1) and assists (4.7) per game. The 29-year-old also shot 40.2 percent from beyond the arc on almost nine attempts per outing.
In terms of what the Sixers need in the backcourt, McCollum has the perfect set of skills. He can score on all three levels, create for himself and others, and seamlessly play on and off the ball. He may not be an elite facilitator like Ben Simmons but is still capable of running an offense.
Adding Covington to the package helps fill the other area Simmons will leave a hole in: Defense. The 30-year-old forward is a former All-Defensive Team member and is coming off his third straight season of averaging at least one steal and one block per game.
Replacing Simmons' defense is no small task, but acquiring Covington certainly helps soften the blow. This would give the Sixers a plethora of above-average wing defenders to help maintain the defensive powerhouse they've built in recent years.
If this offer is actually on the table, it's one Morey should strongly consider. Of all the rumored packages we've seen this summer, this is by far the best. McCollum and Covington are win-now pieces that can help solidify the roster, and the Sixers still walk away with draft capital that could be used in a later deal.
Taking this offer isn't the home run swing Morey is looking for but is still a very good return for a disgruntled All-Star. Between this rumored package and Morey's star-hunting for Lillard, the Trail Blazers remain a team to keep an eye on as the Ben Simmons saga continues.
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