Earlier this week there was a bombshell article from Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic detailing some of the things going on with the Portland Trail Blazers. They could look a lot different in the coming weeks and months as the NBA trade deadline approaches following the dismissal of general manager and president of basketball operations, Neil Olshey.
Olshey was fired after an investigation into the workplace environment. The findings were conclusive enough that he lost his job, potentially changing the course of the franchise in the process.
He believed that he had done enough to make a contending roster in Portland. It was clear that was not the case, as they had fallen short year after year in the postseason with Terry Stotts at the helm. With Olshey no longer running the show, could this be when we see some drastic changes in Portland?
Star point guard Damian Lillard certainly hopes so. In the same piece from The Athletic, they reported that Lillard is becoming frustrated with the organization and wants to see significant changes to the roster. One of those significant changes, if it were up to Lillard, would include acquiring Ben Simmons from the Philadelphia 76ers.
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The Trail Blazers and 76ers have been linked together in trade rumors for a while. Philadelphia wants to acquire Lillard as part of any deal involving Simmons, while it sounds like Lillard wants to team up with Simmons, not be traded for him.
The only conceivable way that this happens is if Daryl Morey lowers the asking price currently on Simmons. C.J. McCollum would likely be the centerpiece heading from Portland to Philadelphia,
A pairing of Lillard and Simmons would be very similar to what the Golden State Warriors deploy with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. It is easy to say that other teams around the league should copy what Golden State is doing, but that is just not feasible.
The duo of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green is virtually impossible to emulate, as they are both very unique players. But, if there was a pairing that could be created to replicate it, Lillard and Simmons would be the closest thing we have seen to them on another team.
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Damian Lillard similarly has unlimited range that Stephen Curry does. Once he steps over halfcourt, opponents have to worry about him pulling up for a jump shot as he is a threat to score from virtually anywhere on the court.
His 3-point shooting prowess would become even deadlier with a playmaker as talented as Ben Simmons. Simmons would be the upgraded, souped-up version of Green.
Both are extremely versatile defensively as they can defend any position on the court whether it is chasing around a quick point guard or banging on the interior with centers. But, Simmons is even bigger and more athletic than Green is or ever was.
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There were reports during the offseason that Lillard wanted the Portland Trail Blazers to try and pry Green away from the Golden State Warriors. A player of that ilk is exactly what Portland needs, as they are struggling mightily once again on the defensive end of the court.
While Draymond Green likely isn’t available, Ben Simmons is and he would bring a lot of the same strengths to Portland. If obtaining Simmons is something that would keep Damian Lillard happy, it is something the team needs to aggressively pursue.
