Would this trade make sense for the Philadelphia 76ers?
When a team is in win-now mode and continues to fail on the biggest stage, it is time to shake things up. That is what the Philadelphia 76ers could look to do after yet another disappointing end in the postseason. While the move seems to be pointed toward Ben Simmons, there are still other options.
The ultimate goal should be to build around Joel Embiid. He is coming off an MVP-caliber season that was derailed by injuries. If Simmons sticks around, Portland could look to add another star on the perimeter to make up for his lack of scoring.
McCollum could be that player and would thrive running pick-and-roll sequences with Embiid. He knows what it is like to play alongside other stars and can score from all three levels. There will be plenty of room on the perimeter for him to operate with Embiid down low.
Simmons would still be able to bring the ball as a point forward to run the half-court offense. McCollum could engage in dribble handoff sequences or involve Simmons as a screener, too. If moving Simmons is the route the team wants to go, they’d already have a high-volume scoring guard on the roster before making a deal.
READ MORE: Predictions for NBA Trade Rumors: Simmons, Lillard, Hield, Ingles, Siakam
When looking at the trade as a whole, this seems like a positive one for Philadelphia. They would get an improved player in the backcourt while continuing to shape the roster around the pieces they already have in place.
