Damian Lillard Wants Portland To Trade For Benjamin Simmons

[DusterBuster]

Honestly Blazers should just do it. Give Morey the 3 unprotected firsts in 2024, 2026, and 2028. From there, see how many pick swaps can be taken off the table if Little is included. For sure surrender the 2023 swap, possibly the 2025 swap and call it a day.

From there immediately trade Nurk to the Pistons for Olynyk OR if it won't be a PR nightmare, bring Meyers back on the minimum and move Nurk to the bench until the deadline.

Slide RoCo to the 3 and move Powell to the bench. For who the final starter should be I'm kind of conflicted. I kind of think Nance is the best option on the roster, just hurts the bench a bit. Maybe can do Snell even though he hasn't been great.

Dame
Snell
RoCo
Ben
Olynyk or Meyers

Portland could trade their 1st round pick this year too. It's traded to Chicago or Cleveland, but it's top 14 protected forever, so Portland could trade it to the Sixers if the pick falls in the lottery.

[Maxthirty]

Both teams would be foolish to not get a CJ for Simmons deal done at this point. Dame is one of the few superstars that pairs well with Simmons, and the Blazers desperately need both defensive minded players and a roster shakeup. Morey needs to accept the reality that Lillard (or Beal) isn't getting traded this season and take a return of McCollum plus picks so that both A) they can compete this year for something beyond a playoff berth, and B) still have a $30 million salary plus other assets to make a pivot move in the next 2-3 years.

Can you explain why you think only a few superstars pair well with Simmons and why a declining Damian Lillard is one of those few? Genuinely asking.

Need an elite end-of-game performer next to Simmons and need an elite defender next to Lillard who can help him get some more easy looks during the course of the game maybe?

Well I don’t think Lillard’s subpar defense should be a reason for why they’re a good fit. A better fit would be another good defender beside Ben.

Is Dame going to continue to be an “elite end of game” guy? I’m not so sure. Does Dame’s past performances in close games make him a better fit with Ben than say someone like Kevin Durant, LeBron, or Curry?

My point is that I think Ben would fit with pretty much every superstar. I see no reason why Lillard would be ahead of almost everyone else in that regard.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Honestly Blazers should just do it. Give Morey the 3 unprotected firsts in 2024, 2026, and 2028. From there, see how many pick swaps can be taken off the table if Little is included. For sure surrender the 2023 swap, possibly the 2025 swap and call it a day.

From there immediately trade Nurk to the Pistons for Olynyk OR if it won't be a PR nightmare, bring Meyers back on the minimum and move Nurk to the bench until the deadline.

Slide RoCo to the 3 and move Powell to the bench. For who the final starter should be I'm kind of conflicted. I kind of think Nance is the best option on the roster, just hurts the bench a bit. Maybe can do Snell even though he hasn't been great.

Dame
Snell
RoCo
Ben
Olynyk or Meyers

Portland could trade their 1st round pick this year too. It's traded to Chicago or Cleveland, but it's top 14 protected forever, so Portland could trade it to the Sixers if the pick falls in the lottery.

Only on draft day, otherwise trading the pick would set up two consecutive years in which we could convey a pick (make the playoffs this year, miss the playoffs next year).

[Tomjas]

Simmons hasn’t said a word since last season and much of the reporting about him has proven to be false

There’s nothing to suggest that he wouldn’t play for the Blazers IF he’s actually fit to play

[JujitsuFlip]

Honestly Blazers should just do it. Give Morey the 3 unprotected firsts in 2024, 2026, and 2028. From there, see how many pick swaps can be taken off the table if Little is included. For sure surrender the 2023 swap, possibly the 2025 swap and call it a day.

From there immediately trade Nurk to the Pistons for Olynyk OR if it won't be a PR nightmare, bring Meyers back on the minimum and move Nurk to the bench until the deadline.

Slide RoCo to the 3 and move Powell to the bench. For who the final starter should be I'm kind of conflicted. I kind of think Nance is the best option on the roster, just hurts the bench a bit. Maybe can do Snell even though he hasn't been great.

Dame
Snell
RoCo
Ben
Olynyk or Meyers

Portland could trade their 1st round pick this year too. It's traded to Chicago or Cleveland, but it's top 14 protected forever, so Portland could trade it to the Sixers if the pick falls in the lottery.

I doubt it will if they start trading for upgrades but at any rate do the base of the deal as the 3 unprotected FRP plus CJ's salary then work out the swaps for Ben. Once Ben arrives, Nurk immediately has to either be traded or slide to the bench, he's on a cheap non guaranteed deal and has expressed is dissatisfaction with the Blazers; and he doesn't shoot enough to stretch the floor.

I'd say trade Powell too but gotta have some other scorer on the team outside of Dame. He for sure needs to go to the bench though, Blazers have the worst defense in the NBA.

[Flash4thewin]

Morey already made an offer to Portland with CJ as the player coming back, so let's not pretend like the Sixers have ZERO interest in taking him back. They've already made it pretty clear they would. So I don't believe you that it would HAVE to be a 3 team deal, but Portland would need to fork over an insane amount of 1sts for Morey to accept.

I think that "offer" was more of an "f u" type thing.

"Sure, you can have Simmons for CJ if you give me control of your draft for the next 6 years."

Well, I'm just going off of what was reported instead of trying to guess the intentions of Morey's thinking.

Three unprotected first round picks and three unprotected pick swaps kinda tells you everything you need to know.

[DusterBuster]

Honestly Blazers should just do it. Give Morey the 3 unprotected firsts in 2024, 2026, and 2028. From there, see how many pick swaps can be taken off the table if Little is included. For sure surrender the 2023 swap, possibly the 2025 swap and call it a day.

From there immediately trade Nurk to the Pistons for Olynyk OR if it won't be a PR nightmare, bring Meyers back on the minimum and move Nurk to the bench until the deadline.

Slide RoCo to the 3 and move Powell to the bench. For who the final starter should be I'm kind of conflicted. I kind of think Nance is the best option on the roster, just hurts the bench a bit. Maybe can do Snell even though he hasn't been great.

Dame
Snell
RoCo
Ben
Olynyk or Meyers

Portland could trade their 1st round pick this year too. It's traded to Chicago or Cleveland, but it's top 14 protected forever, so Portland could trade it to the Sixers if the pick falls in the lottery.

Only on draft day, otherwise trading the pick would set up two consecutive years in which we could convey a pick (make the playoffs this year, miss the playoffs next year).

God Olshey just **** over the team with how he's traded 1st rounders.

[DusterBuster]

I think that "offer" was more of an "f u" type thing.

"Sure, you can have Simmons for CJ if you give me control of your draft for the next 6 years."

Well, I'm just going off of what was reported instead of trying to guess the intentions of Morey's thinking.

Three unprotected first round picks and three unprotected pick swaps kinda tells you everything you need to know.

Not really. It was pretty clear Morey wanted the moon and stars for Simmons. He either wants a star for him or a high-level player and tons of draft capital in return. This was an offer for the latter. Trying to suggest this was some sort of "F U" offer is just putting your own narrative on the situation to fit your argument vs dealing with the actual facts we know.

[Fade_awayJ]

No win situation for the Blazers, mostly due to thier market/location. The franchises best FA signings have been Kenny Anderson/Strickland and Reuben Patterson..

[Scalabrine]

Hey Dame, bring yo ass over to Philly and convince Ben to stay. Imagine Ben + Dame + Embiid on the same team

Portland, we shall gift you Tobias + Thybulle + Shake + picks and you will say thank you very much.

Doubt you'd get Lillard without moving Maxey... also have you been living under a rock? Simmons is not going back there.

Then the Sixers will keep Simmons for 4 years, as Morey has said, and Simmons will keep losing money. No problemo.

Simmons and Maxey for Lillard is doable, maybe.

But Simmons leaving the Sixers without Dame in return? Highly unlikely, unless the other team is fleeced of its first round picks and pick swaps for the next 3-5 years. We ain't desperate and are patient folk

Sixers fans/management love to say this but it's just not that simple. At the moment, the Sixers are a play-in team. In 4 seasons, Embiid will be 31-32 and you're not just gonna be able to wipe Simmons deal off the books and sign another max player, you're too far over the cap and guys will be up for extensions.

You have a big asset that won't play for you, but you can cash in and get someone that will and will help you win right now. That's not to say just take anything, but McCollum is a really good fit on that roster add in someone like Nance or Covington plus a pick (probably lotto protected) and you got:

Philly:
Embiid/Drummond/Nance
Harris/Nance/Niang
Green/Thybulle/Korkmaz
McCollum/Curry/Korkmaz
Maxey/Milton

PDX:
Nurkic/Zeller
Covington/Little
Powell/Snell/McLemore
Lillard/Simons/McLemore
Simmons/Lillard/Smith Jr.

Hem and haw all you want both teams get better and re-open their doors into contender status with this move.

[Flash4thewin]

Doubt you'd get Lillard without moving Maxey... also have you been living under a rock? Simmons is not going back there.

Then the Sixers will keep Simmons for 4 years, as Morey has said, and Simmons will keep losing money. No problemo.

Simmons and Maxey for Lillard is doable, maybe.

But Simmons leaving the Sixers without Dame in return? Highly unlikely, unless the other team is fleeced of its first round picks and pick swaps for the next 3-5 years. We ain't desperate and are patient folk

Sixers fans/management love to say this but it's just not that simple. At the moment, the Sixers are a play-in team. In 4 seasons, Embiid will be 31-32 and you're not just gonna be able to wipe Simmons deal off the books and sign another max player, you're too far over the cap and guys will be up for extensions.

You have a big asset that won't play for you, but you can cash in and get someone that will and will help you win right now. That's not to say just take anything, but McCollum is a really good fit on that roster add in someone like Nance or Covington plus a pick (probably lotto protected) and you got:

Philly:
Embiid/Drummond/Nance
Harris/Nance/Niang
Green/Thybulle/Korkmaz
McCollum/Curry/Korkmaz
Maxey/Milton

PDX:
Nurkic/Zeller
Covington/Little
Powell/Snell/McLemore
Lillard/Simons/McLemore
Simmons/Lillard/Smith Jr.

Hem and haw all you want both teams get better and re-open their doors into contender status with this move.

Not a 76er fan so this is just a neutral opinion here but that does not make them a contender. I see how it greatly benefits Portland on many levels but not for the 76er.

[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

Philly should take CJ and run. They’re not going to get better, there’s been to much damage created already

[DusterBuster]

Then the Sixers will keep Simmons for 4 years, as Morey has said, and Simmons will keep losing money. No problemo.

Simmons and Maxey for Lillard is doable, maybe.

But Simmons leaving the Sixers without Dame in return? Highly unlikely, unless the other team is fleeced of its first round picks and pick swaps for the next 3-5 years. We ain't desperate and are patient folk

Sixers fans/management love to say this but it's just not that simple. At the moment, the Sixers are a play-in team. In 4 seasons, Embiid will be 31-32 and you're not just gonna be able to wipe Simmons deal off the books and sign another max player, you're too far over the cap and guys will be up for extensions.

You have a big asset that won't play for you, but you can cash in and get someone that will and will help you win right now. That's not to say just take anything, but McCollum is a really good fit on that roster add in someone like Nance or Covington plus a pick (probably lotto protected) and you got:

Philly:
Embiid/Drummond/Nance
Harris/Nance/Niang
Green/Thybulle/Korkmaz
McCollum/Curry/Korkmaz
Maxey/Milton

PDX:
Nurkic/Zeller
Covington/Little
Powell/Snell/McLemore
Lillard/Simons/McLemore
Simmons/Lillard/Smith Jr.

Hem and haw all you want both teams get better and re-open their doors into contender status with this move.

Not a 76er fan so this is just a neutral opinion here but that does not make them a contender. I see how it greatly benefits Portland on many levels but not for the 76er.

He's a Knicks fan and you're a Heat fan, so aren't both of you neutral opinions?

[DusterBuster]

No win situation for the Blazers, mostly due to thier market/location. The franchises best FA signings have been Kenny Anderson/Strickland and Reuben Patterson..

Yeah, free agency is, for all intents and purposes, a non-existent tool for team improvement in Portland.

[GunnerWRX]

One problem....Morey.

How? Simmons won't come cheap, we all knew that. Morey has held to his guns and will get a lions share return if and when a trade happens. Look at the draft picks the Nets gave up to get Harden, that sounds like the foundation of a trade. Honestly I think it should be the other way around, it makes more sense to trade Lillard and get him on the 76ers, that way he has a real chance to compete.

Simmons and Harden on the same sentence about trade value is a paradox.

[Scalabrine]

Then the Sixers will keep Simmons for 4 years, as Morey has said, and Simmons will keep losing money. No problemo.

Simmons and Maxey for Lillard is doable, maybe.

But Simmons leaving the Sixers without Dame in return? Highly unlikely, unless the other team is fleeced of its first round picks and pick swaps for the next 3-5 years. We ain't desperate and are patient folk

Sixers fans/management love to say this but it's just not that simple. At the moment, the Sixers are a play-in team. In 4 seasons, Embiid will be 31-32 and you're not just gonna be able to wipe Simmons deal off the books and sign another max player, you're too far over the cap and guys will be up for extensions.

You have a big asset that won't play for you, but you can cash in and get someone that will and will help you win right now. That's not to say just take anything, but McCollum is a really good fit on that roster add in someone like Nance or Covington plus a pick (probably lotto protected) and you got:

Philly:
Embiid/Drummond/Nance
Harris/Nance/Niang
Green/Thybulle/Korkmaz
McCollum/Curry/Korkmaz
Maxey/Milton

PDX:
Nurkic/Zeller
Covington/Little
Powell/Snell/McLemore
Lillard/Simons/McLemore
Simmons/Lillard/Smith Jr.

Hem and haw all you want both teams get better and re-open their doors into contender status with this move.

Not a 76er fan so this is just a neutral opinion here but that does not make them a contender. I see how it greatly benefits Portland on many levels but not for the 76er.

Embiid/McCollum/Harris is one of the best 3 man units in the league in my opinion. They would be adding a legit shot creator and maker that can also play off ball and space the floor. In my opinion, the biggest issue with the Sixers offensively is the lack of a go to perimeter scorer that can break down the defense. Maxey is fine as a secondary guy, Harris has a more all around game. McCollum adds something to that team that they dont currently have.

[babyjax13]

No win situation for the Blazers, mostly due to thier market/location. The franchises best FA signings have been Kenny Anderson/Strickland and Reuben Patterson..

Yeah, free agency is, for all intents and purposes, a non-existent tool for team improvement in Portland.

They took Wes Matthews from Utah and he was a really good player. Not that this totally changes things, but I would imagine Portland is a bigger draw than Salt Lake and other small markets.

[SecondTake]

Shouldn’t we be applauding Dame for wanting to stay and make his team better?

Seriously? The guy is admitting that he can't win on his own. We thought he was cut of the 90s mold of players, but he's not. He's asking for help

Sent from my SM-G950W using RealGM mobile app

[DusterBuster]

No win situation for the Blazers, mostly due to thier market/location. The franchises best FA signings have been Kenny Anderson/Strickland and Reuben Patterson..

Yeah, free agency is, for all intents and purposes, a non-existent tool for team improvement in Portland.

They took Wes Matthews from Utah and he was a really good player. Not that this totally changes things, but I would imagine Portland is a bigger draw than Salt Lake and other small markets.

Portland isn’t the only city with this problem for sure.

[kuclas]

Doubt you'd get Lillard without moving Maxey... also have you been living under a rock? Simmons is not going back there.

Then the Sixers will keep Simmons for 4 years, as Morey has said, and Simmons will keep losing money. No problemo.

Simmons and Maxey for Lillard is doable, maybe.

But Simmons leaving the Sixers without Dame in return? Highly unlikely, unless the other team is fleeced of its first round picks and pick swaps for the next 3-5 years. We ain't desperate and are patient folk

Sixers fans/management love to say this but it's just not that simple. At the moment, the Sixers are a play-in team. In 4 seasons, Embiid will be 31-32 and you're not just gonna be able to wipe Simmons deal off the books and sign another max player, you're too far over the cap and guys will be up for extensions.

You have a big asset that won't play for you, but you can cash in and get someone that will and will help you win right now. That's not to say just take anything, but McCollum is a really good fit on that roster add in someone like Nance or Covington plus a pick (probably lotto protected) and you got:

Philly:
Embiid/Drummond/Nance
Harris/Nance/Niang
Green/Thybulle/Korkmaz
McCollum/Curry/Korkmaz
Maxey/Milton

PDX:
Nurkic/Zeller
Covington/Little
Powell/Snell/McLemore
Lillard/Simons/McLemore
Simmons/Lillard/Smith Jr.

Hem and haw all you want both teams get better and re-open their doors into contender status with this move.

Sixers are are a play in team cause they have the most missed games due to Covid. It’s simple as that.

Cj doesn’t move the needle.

Only reason Portland wants to trade cj is cause they have overlap of another small scoring guard in Powell to fill the CJ slot

Sixers are in desperate need of a true point guard. Cj isn’t that. And he barely plays defense. So Portland keeps Powell who plays better defense and probably do 90% of what cj does on offense. And get all world 1-4 defender/rebounder plus another primary ball handler in Simmons they desperately need.

Think who’s team is really benefiting the team.

The trade that makes the most sense for sixers is Tobias Harris for CJ trade. But Portland fans will be up in arms on that trade.