Portland Trail Blazers Receive: G/F Ben Simmons, 2023 First-Round Pick (PHI), 2027 First-Round Pick (PHI)
Brooklyn Nets Receive: G Damian Lillard
In a roundabout way, this trade finds the Nets trading James Harden for Damian Lillard. They’re sending everything they received for The Bearded One to Portland in exchange for Lillard.
Whether Portland will accept it is another matter. Ben Simmons has not been the picture of reliability over recent years either. Some controversy exists over whether that’s to be attributed to physical or mental health problems.
Therefore, Portland will accept this trade if they think it’s mostly been the former holding back his development. Between Simmons, the emerging Anfernee Simons, and whoever they select with the seventh overall pick in the upcoming draft, they’ll have a decent start on a rebuild.
Plus, can they really resist the urge to form a Simmons/Simons backcourt?
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Brooklyn Nets Among Teams We’d Love To See Trade For Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard?
Maybe they can. It’s possible that the Portland Trail Blazers will pass on Simmons due to the concerns about his long-term outlook. In that event, these teams may be able to reach a compromise by including a third team in the equation.
