the most important thing here is that the blazers (or neil olshey) are willing to trade for ben simmons and that means theyre ready to part ways with cj mccollum, cause i dont believe theyre that stupid to think they can get simmons without giving cj mccollum, so thats encouraging for me at least... trade probably wont happen if they ask for an additional asset like roco, but well see woj mentioned that there could be three or four team trade and its woj, so i believe him that blazers (with spurs, cavs & wolves) have bigger interest in simmons than other teams
I'm not sure where you got the idea the Blazers are willing to trade CJ for Simmons. All the reporting I have seen is Neil is not interested in giving up CJ. Maybe Neil has offered Nurk+Nance+Simons+multiple 1sts and try to construct it as a 3 team trade.
People said similar things about the teams of Anthony Davis, Jimmy Butler, James Harden and some of those situations went on much longer than Simmons has in Philly. The 6ers are in a better position than those other teams in that Simmons isn't their best player, they have a deep roster, and they can be in the playoffs without him. They really have until the February trade deadline to do a trade. After free agents trade restrictions are lifted and some teams with losses or injuries are ready to move in a new directions Philly may get much better offers, so if they don't like the offers now it makes sense for them to wait this out. Yes ideally they would prefer to do the trade sooner than later but I totally disagree they "kinda have to trade him for anything". That is not true at all.
Stephen A today- “There’s trade talk centered around CJ, Roco and draft picks” that’s hard to believe but…it does seem like something we’d do
They did not refuse training camp; but it was similarly very toxic situations with trade demands, and more disruptive to the teams in that they were the teams best player. Philly can still have a winning season with Ben sitting and wait this out, which those teams could not do.
It's not ideal and leaves a gaping hole in our front court, but i would give serious thought to CJ + Roco for Ben + Curry. If Roco is included, I would desperately try to get back Matisse also as you said. But a starting five of Dame/Powell/Ben/Nance/Nurk is terrific defensively even if shooting leaves a lot to be desired.
Also much better players whose value isn’t going to fluctuate drastically such as Ben Simmons. They are clear #1 or #1b players which pretty much anyone wants. Many teams question the fit and attitude of Simmons (rightfully or not) and he has a “trade” list supposedly. Second point, I would argue this makes them in a worse situation. They’ve got 35mm just sitting on the bench and he’s not good enough to retain his value “no matter what.” IF he was playing, maybe, because he could show improved shooting or whatever. Harden was going to get a coup no matter what. If they hang on to him until the deadline, they’re pretty much forced to take whatever is offered or go a year without Simmons… We have already seen the 76ers go from Harden (apparently refused to include Simmons and Maxey I believe) to IND supposed offer to now JOHN WALL. We will see what they get for him. I’ve got a feeling it’s not going to be close to the 6 assets or whatever they want. If they trade him for much less that’s trading him for “anything” by the way, since their asking price isn’t being met. the alternative to “not trading him for anything” is to let him possibly sit out an entire year *worst* case scenario and trade him that off season if you can. You think they’re willing to do that? Unless you do they’re gonna trade him for anything they can. He takes up too much salary space for them to be competitive (if not playing.)
Don’t think butler refused training camp because he showed up and beat the starters asses with the second unit, right? Lol he showed up and openly rioted which may be the only thing worse than not showing up at all lol
Morey did this. He had all summer to trade the guy and he sat on it. Now he's holding the bag. Frankly I'd fire the guy just for how he has handled this situation. It's not his fault that his coach and star threw Simmons under the bus, but it IS his fault for thinking he had a position of power.
Yep Morey has been greedy AF if he hasn't accepted a CJ centered offer. If conversely Olshey hasn’t offered CJ, he’s dangerously incompetent and should be fired immediately.
It’s funny to me that this thread is 92 pages long… everyone and their grandmother has speculated on a CJ for Simmons deal… and today Stephen a smith comes out and says this deal has been discussed and this thread is kinda dead
I'll believe when the trade is made. Until then I'll believe Olshey would never trade CJ. I'd also believe Stephen A is talking out of his ass CJ and draft pick(s), yes CJ, RoCo, and draft pick(s), no. Of course, that doesn't work because of salaries
What did Smith actually say? Got a clip? Did he actually indicate that either side showed legitimate interest in consummating a CJ-for-Simmons deal?
