Damian Lillard Wants Portland To Trade For Benjamin Simmons

[Danny1616]

Having CJ is much better than not having Simmons play at all. I think Simmons is worth more than CJ, but the Sixers would be a much better team with the addition of CJ.

Agreed.

Simmons is the better player, but CJ next to Embiid is the better fit.

[VDT]

Honestly, as a Sixers fan i dont want Lillard (too much risk involved). If the Sixers dont have any other option i could see them doing a Simmons for Lillard trade straighup. I doubt Morey will add much more given Lillard's current performance, age and contrac

Generally speaking though, it is extremely hard to find a trade between two teams that both want to improve. If the Blazers dont want to rebuild, i dont see a deal between these two teams materializing, unless Portland offers an absurd amount of picks, which however they could have used to get a better player than Simmons probably, henece it doesnt make much sense either.

[Dominator83]

Question for Portland fans: does the team own all its future 1st round picks?

This year's pick is lotto protected, otherwise going to Chicago (Larry Nance trade) apparently


To be honest, for Portland, Simmons would be an incredible upgrade and asset, if you look at their needs.

But just don't see why Philadelphia would take CJ, or they can move him to another team

But a lot of picks (3 minimum) and Anfernee Simons (upgrade over Milton) should be attached

Actually, that Nance trade pick is lotto protected for the next 7 years. Which is kinda stupid on Portland's end because, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that basically lock them out of trading any 1st round picks before 2028?

[Myth]

Question for Portland fans: does the team own all its future 1st round picks?

This year's pick is lotto protected, otherwise going to Chicago (Larry Nance trade) apparently


To be honest, for Portland, Simmons would be an incredible upgrade and asset, if you look at their needs.

But just don't see why Philadelphia would take CJ, or they can move him to another team

But a lot of picks (3 minimum) and Anfernee Simons (upgrade over Milton) should be attached

Actually, that Nance trade pick is lotto protected for the next 7 years. Which is kinda stupid on Portland's end because, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that basically lock them out of trading any 1st round picks before 2028?

They would have to make an agreement with the Bulls to unprotect the pick. The standard is a 2nd round pick to convince the team. Blazers really only have 1 tradable 2nd rounder, so making a trade that includes future 1sts also means unprotecting a current pick they gave up and adding a 2nd. So it would have to be a real special trade to convince Portland to do that, especially since they very well could miss the playoffs this year.

[Myth]

This year's pick is lotto protected, otherwise going to Chicago (Larry Nance trade) apparently


To be honest, for Portland, Simmons would be an incredible upgrade and asset, if you look at their needs.

But just don't see why Philadelphia would take CJ, or they can move him to another team

But a lot of picks (3 minimum) and Anfernee Simons (upgrade over Milton) should be attached

Actually, that Nance trade pick is lotto protected for the next 7 years. Which is kinda stupid on Portland's end because, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that basically lock them out of trading any 1st round picks before 2028?

They would have to make an agreement with the Bulls to unprotect the pick. The standard is a 2nd round pick to convince the team. Blazers really only have 1 tradable 2nd rounder, so making a trade that includes future 1sts also means unprotecting a current pick they gave up and adding a 2nd. So it would have to be a real special trade to convince Portland to do that, especially since they very well could miss the playoffs this year.

Blazers would be best off having Lillard get surgery so he can be healthy next season, tank the year, gain a lottery pick they can use in a trade (maybe pair that with CJ if Ben is still available), then come back with a revamped and healthy team next year.

[Tottery]

With Olshey gone, maybe Portland will give Phili what they originally wanted? I think Morey would just use all that to make another move.

[ishoy123]

Honestly, as a Sixers fan i dont want Lillard (too much risk involved). If the Sixers dont have any other option i could see them doing a Simmons for Lillard trade straighup. I doubt Morey will add much more given Lillard's current performance, age and contrac

Generally speaking though, it is extremely hard to find a trade between two teams that both want to improve. If the Blazers dont want to rebuild, i dont see a deal between these two teams materializing, unless Portland offers an absurd amount of picks, which however they could have used to get a better player than Simmons probably, henece it doesnt make much sense either.

Don't worry bro, no one is gonna trade Lillard for Simmons straight up.

[trickshot]

What about CJ, Covington, a 1st and a 2nd for Simmons and Thybulle.

Most Sixer fans are too thirsty for Dame to accept / consider / entertain any deal that doesn't involve him, so don't expect any traction here.

This was always the design flaw in the Lillard masterplan. The pieces don't match the timeline. Portland will trade CJ and a number of pieces before blowing it up. Even when it's time to blow it up they'll have to actually want Ben back for Lillard and that's assuming Lillard actually wants Philly and they aren't trading him to an amicable destination. There's this huge checklist of events, if it plays out I'll tip my hat to Morey.

[Dzon Dilindzer]

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Can anyone speak to the actual context of the request however?

I have seen this frequently with Dame where he is asked a leading question (like "do you think you should have been an All-Star this year") and then it is taken out of context and reported like he is going out saying that to everyone and such.

Was Dame asked a question like "would you want to play with Simmons" or was he asked something more like "Is there a player out there you would want Portland to trade for?"

[Dzon Dilindzer]

Spoiler:

Can anyone speak to the actual context of the request however?

I have seen this frequently with Dame where he is asked a leading question (like "do you think you should have been an All-Star this year") and then it is taken out of context and reported like he is going out saying that to everyone and such.

Was Dame asked a question like "would you want to play with Simmons" or was he asked something more like "Is there a player out there you would want Portland to trade for?"

shams and amick reported it and and it looks like they have sources (not sure about amick, but shams is credible)

there have been rumours too, about how dame is okay with blazers trading anybody on the roster to improve the team, while in the past hes been reluctant to the idea of trading some of his guys... again, thats rumour

[Tor_Raps]

Can Philly win anything with so many of their minutes going to Curry/CJ/Harris? That's some crappy defense right there...

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Spoiler:

Can anyone speak to the actual context of the request however?

I have seen this frequently with Dame where he is asked a leading question (like "do you think you should have been an All-Star this year") and then it is taken out of context and reported like he is going out saying that to everyone and such.

Was Dame asked a question like "would you want to play with Simmons" or was he asked something more like "Is there a player out there you would want Portland to trade for?"

shams and amick reported it and and it looks like they have sources (not sure about amick, but shams is credible)

there have been rumours too, about how dame is okay with blazers trading anybody on the roster to improve the team, while in the past hes been reluctant to the idea of trading some of his guys... again, thats rumour

I'm just curious, did Lillard actually get quoted tho? What was the context of Lillard's statements?

I only ask because I have seen this scenario play out several times before, just like this summer, just like when he said he should have been an All-Star.

Media taking things out of context to build a narrative is unfortunately something we should all be aware of. Just like Woj, Shams undoubtedly keeps his sources by pushing the narrative that they want pushed.

[Dzon Dilindzer]

few days ago dame lillard answered questions on reddit and he said ben simmons is one of the best perimeter defenders

that might be enough for some journalists to write that dame lillard wants to play with ben simmons

[Mickey8]

His name is Benjamin ???

[DusterBuster]

Spoiler:

Can anyone speak to the actual context of the request however?

I have seen this frequently with Dame where he is asked a leading question (like "do you think you should have been an All-Star this year") and then it is taken out of context and reported like he is going out saying that to everyone and such.

Was Dame asked a question like "would you want to play with Simmons" or was he asked something more like "Is there a player out there you would want Portland to trade for?"

shams and amick reported it and and it looks like they have sources (not sure about amick, but shams is credible)

there have been rumours too, about how dame is okay with blazers trading anybody on the roster to improve the team, while in the past hes been reluctant to the idea of trading some of his guys... again, thats rumour

I'm just curious, did Lillard actually get quoted tho? What was the context of Lillard's statements?

I only ask because I have seen this scenario play out several times before, just like this summer, just like when he said he should have been an All-Star.

Media taking things out of context to build a narrative is unfortunately something we should all be aware of. Just like Woj, Shams undoubtedly keeps his sources by pushing the narrative that they want pushed.

Nope, no direct quote from Dame.

I read the Shams article from The Athletic and it's just "sources close to" type stuff. Like Dzon said, I think Dame was complementary of Simmons on insta or something, but as far as Dame flat out saying "I want the Portland TrailBlazers to make a trade for Ben Simmons", that's not happened as far as I can tell.

[DusterBuster]

It's not just Sixers fans, it's Daryl Morey. He asked for CJ + three FRPs + three FRP swaps for Simmons. You think he's going to throw in Thybulle and take on Covington with less picks included? All while Dame might become available in the next 1-6 months?

I highly doubt Dame comes available. There's a lot more speculation that solid truth to that. Dame himself has been pretty consistent that it's not likely to happen.

Agreed, nothing concrete. That being said, there's been enough smoke to be mistaken for a wildfire in Portland.

Dame isn't afraid to say what's on his mind and do so in a public way. There's plenty of fires burning around the TrailBlazers atm, but as for Dame's unhappiness, it's a pretty good rule of thumb to take everything with a grain of salt until you hear it directly from him. If he was unhappy with the organization and close to pushing for a trade, he would let it be known, you won't have to read tea leaves or desipher smoke signals.

[JRoy]

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

Not for POR it isn’t.

PHI can keep the young socialite.

[Dzon Dilindzer]

dame might have said to the front office: "trade for ben simmons", but he for sure wont say it publicly, cause that could create chaos in the team... imagine how would cj mccollum feel about it, as he would be the one to get traded for ben simmons and if the deal doesnt happen and cj mccollum stays, he would know that dame basically wanted him off the team

you just dont say that publicly, you say it in private to the right people (front office) and keep it a secret

[DeBlazerRiddem]

shams and amick reported it and and it looks like they have sources (not sure about amick, but shams is credible)

there have been rumours too, about how dame is okay with blazers trading anybody on the roster to improve the team, while in the past hes been reluctant to the idea of trading some of his guys... again, thats rumour

I'm just curious, did Lillard actually get quoted tho? What was the context of Lillard's statements?

I only ask because I have seen this scenario play out several times before, just like this summer, just like when he said he should have been an All-Star.

Media taking things out of context to build a narrative is unfortunately something we should all be aware of. Just like Woj, Shams undoubtedly keeps his sources by pushing the narrative that they want pushed.

Nope, no direct quote from Dame.

I read the Shams article from The Athletic and it's just "sources close to" type stuff. Like Dzon said, I think Dame was complementary of Simmons on insta or something, but as far as Dame flat out saying "I want the Portland TrailBlazers to make a trade for Ben Simmons", that's not happened as far as I can tell.

That is ridiculous then, a game of telephone from various media sources where Dame liking a tweet with Ben Simmons photoshopped in a Blazer jeresy a few months ago has now turned into this circus of a thread about how Dame definitely demanded the Blazers trade for Simmons or he is going to leave for Philadelphia.

It certainly makes one wonder where the impetus for these rumors are coming from.... Maybe it is just a feeding frenzy for journalists throwing BS at the wall to see what sticks.