Bill Simmons thinks a trade with CJ McCollum is in store

Bill Simmons wrote an article titled ”The NBA Trades That Need To Happen.” He talks about 18 different trade ideas, involving CJ McCollum and the Trail Blazers.

Bill Simmons Trade Ideas + Analysis

Blazers get: Markelle Fultz , Amir Johnson, 2018 first-round pick

His explanation:

"“One problem: If I’m Portland, I want a little more. McCollum is one of the NBA’s 25 to 30 best players. Last season, he scored 23 a game and sniffed the 50-40-90 Club. Last June, maybe you’d flip him for Fultz at one-third the cost without blinking. What about now? Would they worry that Boston AND Philly gave up on Fultz for different reasons? Does he have the yips? Was he really hurt? Was this too big of a spotlight for him? Would a change of scenery help?If I’m Portland, I counter with this idea …”"

76ers get: CJ McCollum

Blazers get: Markelle Fultz , Amir Johnson, Dario Saric

Explanation for trade No. 2:

"“VERDICT: Gets the Blazers under the tax in 2018, chops $15 million off their 2018-19 payroll, lands them two young assets and creates enough cap room to re-sign Jusuf Nurkic next summer. I think they’d have to say yes.-This trade makes sense only if Portland never makes the aforementioned Gasol trade. It also requires Portland to take a deep breath and say, “We can’t contend for a title with what we have … so where are we going?”"

My Analysis

Questions surrounding Markelle Fultz

I don’t think Neil Olshey, Paul Allen and the Portland Trail Blazers make this trade.

There are questions surrounding Fultz as he has yet to show he can be good player in the NBA. He was the first overall pick in the 2017 draft, but like Simmons asks above, you would have to wonder why the Celtics and 76ers gave up on him so early.

He is a 6’4 shooting guard, meaning the Blazers wouldn’t get that much bigger in their backcourt. Fultz showed a lot of talent and potential in his one year of college and could become a great player.

But the Blazers shouldn’t trade a sure thing like CJ for a gamble on Fultz.

The second trade Simmons proposes is nice, but the 76ers need to throw in more for the Blazers to move on from CJ.

Dario Saric doesn’t fit

I think they would need to add a 2018 first round pick in with Saric as well. The Blazers already have two young big men they just drafted, along with Noah Vonleh, Meyers Leonard, Ed Davis and Jusuf Nurkic manning the paint.

Where does Saric fit into the mix? He can score the ball (12.6 PPG) and is decent rebounder (6.4 RPG), but that’s the extent of it.

The first round pick would gave Portland extra insurance. However, it won’t be a super high pick since the 76ers are playing well this season and would drastically improve with CJ McCollum.

CJ McCollum too ingrained in Portland

CJ McCollum is one of the best SG and scorers in the NBA. If the Blazers choose to trade him, their season has to be going pretty bad and they will be looking to get similar talent in return.

The Blazers want to win during Damian Lillard‘s prime; adding more young pieces isn’t the way to do that.

CJ has been scoring 20 points or more for three straight seasons. He has a great relationship with Damian Lillard and the city of Portland.

It’s easy to say the Blazers should trade one of their stars. But how do you sell that to your fanbase and the players on the team?

Next: Blazers lose to Warriors despite Dame's 39 points

If they do trade CJ, it has to be for someone like Jimmy Butler, Paul George, or DeMarcus Cousins. Those teams probably don’t want to trade those guys, so I see McCollum being on this Blazers team for awhile.

Check out the article Bill Simmons wrote on the theringer.com and let us know what you think about this trade. He has another trade involving the Blazers that you should check out as well.