If CJ were to be traded, who are we most likely to get?

[BoomChakaLaka]

That would be a lineup that would be interesting. Big, talented, and capable offensively, defensively and on the glass.

Whether Simmons would be a 3 or 4 isn't really relevant... he'd take ballhandling pressure off of Dame and he would be able to guard a variety of guys depending on the opponent.

I’d teach Simmons how to play the 4. He can’t hit from outside so why have him play 2 or 3. RoCo can shoot 3’s, yet he’s not great underneath…so play RoCo at the 3

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

My favorite move however is Nurk + CJ + a pick for Towns. I think Dame / Powell / RoCo / Collins / Towns has real promise. Then the players that round out the roster should include Simons, Little and Kanter. Melo, if he takes a liking further down the bench, and we need a stud at PF - a vet that’s a stopper. Can fouls hard and isn’t a liability.

 

[Ed O]

I’d teach Simmons how to play the 4. He can’t hit from outside so why have him play 2 or 3. RoCo can shoot 3’s, yet he’s not great underneath…so play RoCo at the 3

If he's guarding a small forward and handling the ball on offense but only shooting in the key... what position is that?

The main issue with some guys that lack clear-cut positions is their inability to defend anyone. Maybe they're too slow to guard a wing but too small to guard a post player. Simmons doesn't have that problem. At least on defense, the uncertainty of his position is due to his flexibility, rather than lack of flexibility.

On offense, he's still a special passer, and I don't think that having him play the power forward takes full advantage of those skills. Jokic has a whole offense run around him in Denver to showcase what he can do, but I don't think Portland would do that with Simmons in a post position.

He is what he is: a low usage, poor free throw shooting non-factor from the perimeter. With Dame and Powell and Covington (along with Collins and/or Simons if they continue to be Blazers and develop) I think he'd be a good fit whatever number you'd assign to him. If he improves either his free throw shooting or his perimeter shooting, then he becomes a potential HoF-level player.

 

[PCmor7]

I’d teach Simmons how to play the 4. He can’t hit from outside so why have him play 2 or 3. RoCo can shoot 3’s, yet he’s not great underneath…so play RoCo at the 3

It's positionless basketball. Simmons and RoCo are forwards. RoCo's really a stretch 4 ... I don't want him guarding good offensive 3s because his lateral movement probably is the worst thing about him on defense, but he can body with a lot of 4s these days. And Simmons would be handling the ball a lot.

I'm still not sure if Simmons works with the Blazers. I know everyone wants to be rid of CJ and is clamoring to get better on defense. Simmons would take care of the first and seems likely to help with the second. I think the Blazers offense would take such a massive hit, though, that it might not be worth it. You have no real No. 2 option. Powell's a great No. 3 option, but he's not creating a ton of offense all on his own. RoCo? He's a streaky set shooter. Nurk lives on the pick-and-roll.

If you can trade CJ for Simmons and Nurk for KAT, now you have something interesting.

 

[pougie]

CJ and DJJ and H. Giles III plus a second round pick

for

Simmons and Curry


Sign Powell, Kanter and Melo

Dame / Curry
Powell / Simons / Elleby
RoCo / Little / draft
Simmons / Collins / Melo
Nurkic / Kanter / vet or draft


Tradable players at 2022 trade deadline

RoCo / Nurkic / Powell

With Simmons on the team, I think I’d much rather try to get Olynyk as the backup PF/C than Kanter. Giles is a FA btw.

 

[pougie]

My favorite move however is Nurk + CJ + a pick for Towns. I think Dame / Powell / RoCo / Collins / Towns has real promise. Then the players that round out the roster should include Simons, Little and Kanter. Melo, if he takes a liking further down the bench, and we need a stud at PF - a vet that’s a stopper. Can fouls hard and isn’t a liability.

Seems like not enough value for KAT. GSW could offer both lotto picks, Wiseman, and Wiggins for KAT. It would make more sense to go with that deal if you’re MIN.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Simmons/Thybulle

MAKE IT SO!

I predicted this post coming from you 4 days ago!
lol, and I agree with you.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

If you don't want a Simmons for CJ trade, that's understandable.
However, you are definitely NOT a buy low, sell high kind of guy - I am.

 

[wizenheimer]

The problem we have if we do a CJ for Simmons trade is who is our #2 scorer?

CJ has been the #2 scorer for 6 seasons and it hasn't gotten the Blazers anywhere. Maybe that's not a critical role

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Simmons is a center under D’Antoni

CENTER.

 

[B-Roy]

I still don’t think Philly trades Simmons for CJ straight up. This is CJ we’re talking about.

 

[wizenheimer]

I still don’t think Philly trades Simmons for CJ straight up. This is CJ we’re talking about.

I agree. I mean, if Philly is giving up on Simmons I'd think one thing they'd want is some cap relief. Right now they are 2nd round exit while being 12M over the tax line. CJ has a very similar salary as Simmons

Portland has to take a risk, maybe more than one, if they want to build a contender around Dame. CJ isn't a good enough 2nd option. Simmons might not be either, but he'd definitely change the team's style and add defense and playmaking

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

It's positionless basketball. Simmons and RoCo are forwards. RoCo's really a stretch 4 ... I don't want him guarding good offensive 3s because his lateral movement probably is the worst thing about him on defense, but he can body with a lot of 4s these days. And Simmons would be handling the ball a lot.

I'm still not sure if Simmons works with the Blazers. I know everyone wants to be rid of CJ and is clamoring to get better on defense. Simmons would take care of the first and seems likely to help with the second. I think the Blazers offense would take such a massive hit, though, that it might not be worth it. You have no real No. 2 option. Powell's a great No. 3 option, but he's not creating a ton of offense all on his own. RoCo? He's a streaky set shooter. Nurk lives on the pick-and-roll.

If you can trade CJ for Simmons and Nurk for KAT, now you have something interesting.

agree with Simmons + KAT - we may have to give up Little, ANT, Collins to even dream of pulling off both players. But a lineup that includes Dame, Powell, Simmons, Nurk sounds good

 

[Natebishop3]

I think Doc has been horrible for Simmons. Get him a better coach. I actually think if you can get Simmons you want MDA. I think he could turn Simmons into a superstar.

 

[Scalma]

 

[calvin natt]

I think Doc has been horrible for Simmons. Get him a better coach. I actually think if you can get Simmons you want MDA. I think he could turn Simmons into a superstar.

Why?

 

[Natebishop3]

Why?

Which part?

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I think Doc has been horrible for Simmons. Get him a better coach. I actually think if you can get Simmons you want MDA. I think he could turn Simmons into a superstar.

He's not exactly bringing out the best in Tobias Harris, either.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

"If" and "could" - the term "scoop" should be removed from his moniker.

 

[Pinwheel1]

He's not exactly bringing out the best in Tobias Harris, either.

Tobias is their highest-paid player

 

[Natebishop3]

I'll just never get over the clip of Doc joining a show with KG, Paul Pierce, Rondo, and Big Baby.

Big Baby clearly despised him. I don't think he's a good coach for someone with confidence issues.

 

[PCmor7]

agree with Simmons + KAT - we may have to give up Little, ANT, Collins to even dream of pulling off both players. But a lineup that includes Dame, Powell, Simmons, Nurk sounds good

I think some people are starting to recognize it might not take as much to get Simmons as previously thought. Not sure what it would take to pry KAT from Minnesota, but we actually might get back extra assets from the Sixers in a Simmons deal that could be used there.

 

[pougie]

I think some people are starting to recognize it might not take as much to get Simmons as previously thought. Not sure what it would take to pry KAT from Minnesota, but we actually might get back extra assets from the Sixers in a Simmons deal that could be used there.

Don’t think Simmons + any dominant big is a recipe for success. It works if KAT only wants to shoot 3’s. But will he? I think it’s one or the other, but not both.

 

[illmatic99]

https://www.theringer.com/2021/6/21/22543167/ben-simmons-joel-embiid-philadelphia-76ers

Consider Portland. McCollum for Simmons as the main piece in a Blazers-Sixers deal is what executives around the league, just like fans, think is a reasonable trade that makes sense for both sides. Simmons could be like a supercharged Draymond Green to Damian Lillard’s Steph Curry. For years, the Warriors have shredded teams in this play because Curry would often draw a trap, and pass the ball to Draymond, who could get to the rim or make a clutch pass to a teammate. Simmons would thrive in a role like that since Lillard feels the same type of pressure in the pick-and-roll.

McCollum, in turn, would help the Sixers. Any player who can create their own shot at a high level would. But it’s not a no-brainer deal. McCollum is 29, and he has underperformed in past postseasons. A backcourt of McCollum and Seth Curry would also make for a weak defensive duo. Blazers fans have just about had it with McCollum, just as Sixers fans have with Simmons. But they could each drag their problems to a new team too.

 

[B-Roy]

https://www.theringer.com/2021/6/21/22543167/ben-simmons-joel-embiid-philadelphia-76ers

Consider Portland. McCollum for Simmons as the main piece in a Blazers-Sixers deal is what executives around the league, just like fans, think is a reasonable trade that makes sense for both sides. Simmons could be like a supercharged Draymond Green to Damian Lillard’s Steph Curry. For years, the Warriors have shredded teams in this play because Curry would often draw a trap, and pass the ball to Draymond, who could get to the rim or make a clutch pass to a teammate. Simmons would thrive in a role like that since Lillard feels the same type of pressure in the pick-and-roll.

McCollum, in turn, would help the Sixers. Any player who can create their own shot at a high level would. But it’s not a no-brainer deal. McCollum is 29, and he has underperformed in past postseasons. A backcourt of McCollum and Seth Curry would also make for a weak defensive duo. Blazers fans have just about had it with McCollum, just as Sixers fans have with Simmons. But they could each drag their problems to a new team too.

Interesting, but we are dealing with Morey here. If it was Elton Brand I think it'd be easier to come up with a good deal.

 

[PCmor7]

Don’t think Simmons + any dominant big is a recipe for success. It works if KAT only wants to shoot 3’s. But will he? I think it’s one or the other, but not both.

Towns averaged 6.3 attempted 3s per game this year and 7.8 the year before. He's almost a career 40% shooter from 3. Having a big who can shoot but also can score inside is, IMO, one of the best ways to offset Simmons not being able to shoot from the perimeter and also not being a top option on the offensive end. Towns also protects the rim (1.4 blocks for his career).

Would Minnesota trade him? Probably not. I'd see if I could get them to bit on a deal centered around Nurk, though. He's closer to a second star than anyone we've had in a while.

 

[PCmor7]

Plus, Simmons has played with a similar player to Towns with Embiid but was lacking the perimeter firepower the Blazers have in Dame and, hopefully, Powell.

 

[PCmor7]

Interesting, but we are dealing with Morey here. If it was Elton Brand I think it'd be easier to come up with a good deal.

Might not all be in Morey's hands. Sixer fans have soured on Simmons, and that's one of the toughest cities in which to play when your producing. He doesn't seem to have his coach's confidence, and everyone seems to know it.

I wouldn't be as concerned with Morey as much as other teams having the assets to make a better deal than the Blazers.

 

[B-Roy]

Might not all be in Morey's hands. Sixer fans have soured on Simmons, and that's one of the toughest cities in which to play when your producing. He doesn't seem to have his coach's confidence, and everyone seems to know it.

I wouldn't be as concerned with Morey as much as other teams having the assets to make a better deal than the Blazers.

If fan pressure mattered at all CJ would have been gone years ago.

 

[PCmor7]

If fan pressure mattered at all CJ would have been gone years ago.

Fan pressure/media pressure is a lot different in Philly than Portland. What Simmons and the Sixers face is 100 times what the Blazers get about CJ. At least.