RealGM

Blazers trade:
CJ McCollum
Zach Collins
Anfernee Simons
#16

Blazers receive:
Ben Simmons
Furkan Korkmaz

Blazers decide to mix things up by trading CJ for a less redundant (and better overall) star to pair with Dame. Lillard/Trent/Ariza?/Simmons/Nurkic could be extremely dangerous, and Korkmaz provides a nice little shooting pop off the bench.

Sixers trade:
Ben Simmons
Al Horford
Zhaire Smith
Furkan Korkmaz

Sixers receive:
Chris Paul
CJ McCollum
Zach Collins

This might get push back from fellow Sixers fans and FWIW I don't believe we need to split up Simmons/Embiid, but in this case I would. I love the balance it brings our roster, and CJ's timeline matches up well with Embiid and Tobi. We finally get our perimeter shot creator. CP3 isn't getting any younger but even in his old age he's the perfect floor general to make the most of our talent. I honestly believe an 8-man rotation of CP3/McCollum/Richardson/Tobi/Embiid with Shake/Thybulle/Collins off the bench would make us the favorites to win it next year. I might start Thybulle over J Rich and play J Rich in a big minute Manu/Iggy type role but regardless, I love the way these pieces fit in theory. As a bonus we don't have to deplete our draft stock to move on from the failed Horford experiment.

Thunder trades:
Chris Paul

Thunder receives:
Al Horford
#16
Zhaire Smith
Anfernee Simons

OKC extracts future value by trading an iffy contract for a worse contract, which is fine given where they are in the rebuild process. They land a mid FRP and 2 recent FRPs who both have legitimate potential IMO. My one reservation is whether they care about spending so much money on 2 Cs for the 20-21 season, but that doesn't strike me as a big deal for a non-contender. It helps that Horford isn't the type of player who would hinder the development of their young talent.

Portland needs to add a few more 1sts (to send to OKC) imo. they're stealing value right now

It's a very easy yes for Portland and, I believe, a very easy no for OKC. As for Philly, I think Paul/McCollum is a terrific backcourt, as my recent attempt to put them together in NY attests, but this is a huge risk at a huge cost for the Sixers -- love the boldness and even the resulting roster, but I don't believe they'd do it.

(edit: fixed typo)

Honestly I could see this Portland team beating this Sixers team in the Finals, which would represent a step forward for both teams, but the narrative for Philly would be rough, especially if CP3 missed any games. Simmons is nearly everything the Blazers need to leap into legit contention, and his weaknesses are well-covered by this team.

I think Portland is pretty clearly coming away with the best player here. I actually don't mind the value for OKC. The sixers have to get more for Simmons if they deal him. Cp3 and CJ would really help and be a nice backcourt but they're more like 3rd guys on title teams at this point in their careers. Hard sell for Philly to me if their goal is to win a title with Embiid.

This puts Philly in a win now situation. CP-CJ-Richardson-Harris-Embiid, this isn’t a bad starting five. CP would be a great leader for Philly and CJ would bring consistent scoring. Blazers would lose scoring and Simmons definitely wouldn’t help with stretching the floor. I like the trade but Portland would need to make additional trades to balance their roster. I agree Presti would want more picks if OKC were to trade CP.

Blazers20 wrote:Blazers would lose scoring and Simmons definitely wouldn’t help with stretching the floor.

From my POV, Lillard already stretches the floor sufficiently. Like Harden and Steph, he attracts doubles out to half court and compels presses and zones oriented entirely towards stopping him. The issue has been the absence of a secondary playmaker. Forcing Lillard to give up the ball early works, whereas Houston and Golden State at their best were equipped to punish such schemes. Simmons, in something akin to the Draymond role, would absolutely flourish in Portland. Trent, Hood, Ariza, et al. already saw plenty of open looks playing off Lillard, and now they'd have a guy who can zip the ball right into their pockets. Lillard benefits, too, because 3-on-4 just won't be a viable option anymore. Lillard's logo bombs get the attention but he's quietly become great (somebody check me on this -- I haven't looked at the numbers) at breaking down single defenders to get to the rim/line.

I think Lillard + Simmons + Nurkic + shooters = championship. I also don't see it happening. The Sixers have issues, but they're enviable ones. They know what they have in Ben.

I like the idea, but I can't give up Simmons for a 35-year-old PG. Paul's injury history, contract, and age bring too much risk into the equation. CJ is not enough to make up for that potential catastrophe of losing Simmons in this deal.

POR gets amazing value here. OKC gets decent value too, and they could probably swing Horford to Houston for Gordon + filler(s).

I'm really skeptical to Ben Simmons but the value in this deal is too good for the Blazers to pass up. Portland should definitely add a bit more or take on salary from Philadelphia

Jesus, why would you give up Ben Simmons for CJ Mccollum? I get that there's other stuff in there, but yikes. If Horford/Zhaire/#16/Simons is enough to land Paul, the Sixers would just figure out how to add value in place of #16 and Simons.

If Philly Management has made the decision that putting shooters around Embiid is the right path and that the Simmons / Embiid pairing doesn't work because they both want the same space on the floor, it makes a ton of sense all of the way around. Value for OKC is OK, but I could see them hold out for a 2nd or so from Portland...

This is the best, most workable deal I've seen with Simmons / CJ / Paul... Justification across the board is easy to see.

Excellent job OP.

It's likely Portland would have to add a bit more to OKC but definitely a possibility from Portland's end.

Send Nader to Philly, Muscala to Portland, and Little to OKC and is on board.

I would do this for okc. I dont know about the value for the other teams because I don’t care about them.

Soulyss wrote:If Philly Management has made the decision that putting shooters around Embiid is the right path and that the Simmons / Embiid pairing doesn't work because they both want the same space on the floor, it makes a ton of sense all of the way around. Value for OKC is OK, but I could see them hold out for a 2nd or so from Portland...

This is the best, most workable deal I've seen with Simmons / CJ / Paul... Justification across the board is easy to see.

Excellent job OP.

What if they made the opposite decision (which they have)?

And a good but overpaid scoring guard, an additional big they don’t need and a non lotto 1st is not good value for a 24-year old All Star 1st team defense player locked on a long term contract.

Not bad for an out of the box multi-team trade. Portland could add a lottery protected 1st.

GutUNC wrote:

Soulyss wrote:If Philly Management has made the decision that putting shooters around Embiid is the right path and that the Simmons / Embiid pairing doesn't work because they both want the same space on the floor, it makes a ton of sense all of the way around. Value for OKC is OK, but I could see them hold out for a 2nd or so from Portland...

This is the best, most workable deal I've seen with Simmons / CJ / Paul... Justification across the board is easy to see.

Excellent job OP.

What if they made the opposite decision (which they have)?

And a good but overpaid scoring guard, an additional big they don’t need and a non lotto 1st is not good value for a 24-year old All Star 1st team defense player locked on a long term contract.

Philly has stated something, that does not make it fact (frankly it usually means the opposite in NBA land.) You could be right and on opening day next season Embiid & Simmons are still on the roster together... but it's clear the fit is questionable... maybe workable, but I have my doubts.

Soulyss wrote:

GutUNC wrote:

Soulyss wrote:If Philly Management has made the decision that putting shooters around Embiid is the right path and that the Simmons / Embiid pairing doesn't work because they both want the same space on the floor, it makes a ton of sense all of the way around. Value for OKC is OK, but I could see them hold out for a 2nd or so from Portland...

This is the best, most workable deal I've seen with Simmons / CJ / Paul... Justification across the board is easy to see.

Excellent job OP.

What if they made the opposite decision (which they have)?

And a good but overpaid scoring guard, an additional big they don’t need and a non lotto 1st is not good value for a 24-year old All Star 1st team defense player locked on a long term contract.

Philly has stated something, that does not make it fact (frankly it usually means the opposite in NBA land.) You could be right and on opening day next season Embiid & Simmons are still on the roster together... but it's clear the fit is questionable... maybe workable, but I have my doubts.

Simmons/Embiid offensive rating:

2019-20 (without Horford) 119.8
2018-19: 115.2
2017-18: 115.1

2019-20 Dallas: 116.3


But tell me more about this questionable fit that the Sixers are lying about wanting to stand with when in fact they would prefer to have an overpaid scoring guard who can’t defend, a backup big on a roster with too many bigs and a non-lotto 1st that they already have 1 of.

I like it.

I might even have Blazers giving a 1sts and Collins to OKC and OKC giving Schroder to 76ers

Thunder ought to love this deal.

Sixer fans are probably going to think they are over-paying, but two solid veterans and a young player with good potential is getting a lot back. This deal could do them well in next year's playoffs.

Blazers are probably over-paying IMO. Two of their three best guards plus a young forward and a 1st -- that's too much. Then again, Simmons just might fit that well with Lillard. The Blazers need to focus on a title run, so maybe ...