The Portland Trail Blazers could be shaking things up sooner than later. The Athletic released an article today detailing what could be coming for the franchise after they moved on from longtime NBA executive Neil Olshey last week.
Olshey, who was general manager and president of basketball operations, was fired after an investigation revealed that he built a toxic workplace environment. Whoever takes over as general manager will have some big decisions to make right off the bat.
While Damian Lillard has shown patience with the organization, doubling and tripling down on his commitments to Portland throughout the offseason and early parts of the regular season, that patience seems to now be wearing thin. He wants to see significant changes to the roster and Ben Simmons is who he wants to reportedly play with.
Simmons has had his issues with the Philadelphia 76ers. He requested a trade during the offseason but the team has not yet found a deal that interests them. As a result, Simmons has remained away from the team. When he was with them, he was sent home from practice and suspended for insubordination as he refused to take part in drills.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Why Damian Lillard Wants Blazers To Make Ben Simmons Trade
While he has his shortcomings and flaws on the court, Simmons’s strengths are exactly what the Portland Trail Blazers need. His versatility on defense would help the team immensely, as they are once again near the bottom of the league in defensive metrics despite the hiring of Chauncey Billups as head coach.
What could trade for Simmons look like? Shams Charania and Sam Amick shared the framework of the deal in their piece over at The Athletic.
“Sources say the Trail Blazers, under Olshey, discussed the framework of a trade for Simmons, moving CJ McCollum, a first-round draft pick and a young player such as Nassir Little or Anfernee Simons to Philadelphia. The 76ers, sources said, at one point asked the Trail Blazers for McCollum and multiple draft picks and multiple draft swaps, which Portland rejected. Olshey maintained significant confidence in the roster he constructed.”
The Philadelphia 76ers want to acquire Lillard in a deal for Ben Simmons, not have them pair up together in Portland. But, the fact that there were some deals discussed that involved C.J. McCollum means that something could be worked out in the future.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Why Damian Lillard Wants Blazers To Make Ben Simmons Trade
Daryl Morey should have already lowered his asking price to get this saga over with. Portland, on the brink of potentially losing Damian Lillard should he request a trade, should be going all out to acquire a player that he has reportedly named as someone he wants to play with.
There is a deal here to be made, it is just a matter of which organization blinks first, gives in and bites the bullet, ceding a little more in a trade than they originally wanted to.
