There has been quite a bit of attention on the Portland Trail Blazers recently. Amidst GM Neil Olshey’s firing and their inconsistent performances on the court, the franchise has received a lot of criticism.
Many people have suggested that the roster needs changes in order for them to build a legitimate contender around Damian Lillard. Lillard reportedly wants to play with 76ers All-Star Ben Simmons, and that is a move that would help the team on the defensive end.
Former Trail Blazers forward Bonzi Wells has recently claimed that the deal would be a “win-win for both sides”. He claimed that Lillard and Ben Simmons “would be perfect” and lauded what Simmons would bring to the table for the Trail Blazers: his passing and his defense.
According to reports, Damian Lillard wants to play with Ben Simmons in Portland.
Former #Blazers Forward @BonziWells tells @Grady & @HowardBeck why they could succeed together #RipCity pic.twitter.com/TNumWZEhIs
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) December 6, 2021
Ben Simmons is not the scorer that CJ McCollum is in terms of the way he scores dynamically. But I think the size and the way he plays on both sides of the ball… Ben Simmons is a hell of a passer and he understands the game… I like the size and the way he play kind of like a LeBron, cause he can see the court or whatever.
I just think that him being a bigger guard defensively on that other side is going to just make it so much better for them. I think it’s a good trade for both sides… CJ can go to a place like Philadelphia and be a star in Philadelphia. I think him and Ben Simmons would be perfect. I love Tyrese Maxey, I love young Curry. I think it’s going to be a win-win for both sides.
There is no question that both the Trail Blazers and the 76ers need to make some changes, and exchanging CJ McCollum and Ben Simmons could help both teams out and be a “win-win” trade.
It remains to be seen if the two teams do end up making this trade. The Philadelphia 76ers haven’t been a real contender this year without Ben Simmons, and perhaps the addition of CJ McCollum would give them that offensive punch. While there is no indication a trade is imminent, it’s still a possibility.
