Pro 1: Ben Simmons would instantly be the best defender on the Blazers roster
Ben Simmons is one of the greatest defenders in the NBA today. At 6’11, 240-lbs, the oversized playmaker has the length and strength to effectively guard all five positions.
He was one of the biggest reasons for the Sixers second overall defensive rate ranking. As great as the team was as a whole on defense, the difference was palpable when Simmons was on the court. With him in the game, Philly allowed 107.4 points per 100 possessions as opposed to 109.5 when he was on the bench.
Among players who played at least 30 games and averaged 15 minutes or more, Simmons finished fifth overall in defensive win shares. He was tied for fifth in the league in steals. He held his opponents to just under 41 percent shooting on shots he contested.
Watch in the above clip as he picks up Russell Westbrook in a semi-transition opportunity and then rotates onto Thomas Bryant off the dump-off, denying the center at the rim. How many players can pick up Westbrook with a full head of steam, force the ball out of his hands, and then challenge a big man at the rim—all in the same play none the less?
The Trail Blazers desperately need a defensive player of Simmons’s stature. Turning McCollum into Simmons would be a godsend for Portland’s defense.
Pro 2: Ben Simmons would provide key versatility to the Trail Blazers roster
Simmons multifaceted abilities on defense would give the Blazers roster a level of versatility and adaptability that they’ve never had in the Damian Lillard-era. With Dame on the squad, Simmons wouldn’t be running the point like he’s done his entire career thus far.
Instead, if he were to be traded for CJ McCollum, Simmons would most likely slide into the power forward slot, allowing the Blazers to size up and drastically change their defensive landscape.
Of course, just because he would start at the four spot, doesn’t mean he’ll always finish games there or even play most of his minutes in that slot.
With his size and agility, Simmons can guard any position on the court. However the matchup dictates, he’ll be tasked with lining up opposite the opponent’s best scorer—be it a guard or forward.
His elite court vision would also make him the Blazers requisite backup point guard. His minutes would best be staggered with Dame’s, so there’s always an elite playmaker on the court for Portland at all times.
When needed, Simmons could also stand in as a small-ball five when the Blazers need to pick up the pace.
Adding him to the roster would unlock all kinds of different lineups for new Head Coach Chauncey Billups to tinker with.
Pro 3: Ben Simmons would be the best pure passer on the Trail Blazers
If they traded for Simmons, not only would the Portland Trail Blazers be adding an elite perimeter defender, they’d also be adding the league’s best backup point guard.
If his minutes are properly staggered with Dame’s, the Blazers would have a top-tier floor general to set the table for their backup shooters and slashers.
Playmaking was one of the Trail Blazers biggest weaknesses last year, having finished dead last in the league with only 21.3 assists per game.
Even while Simmons is sharing the court with Lillard, his vision will still be his best asset. It’s been long said that his ideal role may be as a short-roll playmaker a la Draymond Green. Non-coincidentally, the Golden State Warriors led the league in assists with 27.7 helpers per night.
In the above play, Simmons sets a screen for the ballhandler before rolling to the rim. He catches it with momentum diving into the paint, forcing Mike Scott’s defender to shade away from the corner to double Simmons on the drive. The oversized point guard recognizes this and finds Scott in the corner for a wide-open triple.
Imagine Simmons setting screens for Lillard. As noted, Dame is one of the most blitzed guards coming off of a pick in the league. If teams continue to double Lillard with Simmons rolling to the rim, Dame can find Ben for a wide open drive, which will most likely end in a typical Simmons dime.