NBA Trades: Analyzing a hypothetical Ben Simmons/Damian Lillard trade
By Duncan Smith
Does this trade for Ben Simmons work for the Portland Trail Blazers?
The Blazers are the team getting the haul in this deal. They get Simmons, who is supremely talented but damaged goods after this past playoff run, and somebody who could play alongside CJ McCollum in the backcourt and provide a huge dose of much-needed defense and playmaking.
They also get promising sophomore Tyrese Maxey, coming off an excellent rookie season, as well as Matisse Thybulle, who is one of the NBA’s best defenders. Not least of all, they get two first-round draft picks. The Sixers figure to be very good for a long time, so first-round picks in 2023 and 2026 likely won’t end up mattering a great deal, but it’s always nice to come away with firsts when you trade your superstar as the Blazers are doing here.
The Blazers will miss Damian Lillard’s offense, but Simmons is an elite defender and an excellent playmaker. Ben Simmons is never going to take over a game on the offensive end, but that’s what the Blazers have McCollum for, and Simmons can be the ideal wing stopper in clutch situations.
There was some redundancy between Lillard and McCollum on the same team, but no such redundancy exists in a lineup with Simmons and McCollum. Between the infusion of young talent, the opportunity to rehabilitate Ben Simmons and a couple of draft picks to boot, this seems like a great deal for the Portland Trail Blazers, a team that has to do something fast.