Sports Short: Portland Trail Blazers reportedly decline trade deal for Ben Simmons involving CJ McCollum

Published 10:15 am Monday, October 11, 2021

PORTLAND — The Portland Trail Blazers have turned down a trade proposal that would have sent CJ McCollum and multiple draft picks and pick swaps to Philadelphia for disgruntled All-Star forward Ben Simmons, according to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic.

According to Charania, the 76ers offered up Simmons for McCollum, three first-round picks and three pick swaps but the Blazers said no.

Simmons, upset by how he perceived the way the 76ers treated him following his performance during the team’s Game 7 loss to Atlanta in the second round of the NBA playoffs, has declared that he will not report to training camp, which began last week.

Simmons has been a no-show to camp and has demanded a trade. For much of the summer, Simmons was linked in trade rumors with Portland either for Damian Lillard or McCollum.

Neil Olshey, Blazers president of basketball operations, has made it clear that he has no intentions of trading Lillard. McCollum, on the other hand, is believed to be more attainable but only in the right deal.

Simmons would certainly be an interesting fit with the Blazers. He would provide defense, size (6-foot-11), playmaking ability, rebounding and would elevate the team’s transition game. However, Simmons’ shooting issues are well-documented.

McCollum, on the other hand, is one of the league’s best all-around scorers and was on an All-Star trajectory for the first time in his career last season before a broken foot sidelined him for 25 games.

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