NBA Trade Rumors: Blazers willing to make big offer for Ben Simmons?

NBA Trade Rumors: The Portland Trail Blazers are willing to discuss a big trade package for Ben Simmons. 

A new day, a new development in the Ben Simmons-Philadelphia 76ers trade saga. This time attached is the Portland Trail Blazers, who appear willing to make a big offer for Simmons. However, the Sixers, reportedly, aren’t willing to accept the deal.

According to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, the Blazers could/might/maybe have an offer for Simmons on the table. They’re willing to include CJ McCollum, Robert Covington, and a couple of picks for Simmons.

So far the Sixers have been waiting for a better offer, but you can’t help but wonder if this is something that Philly will eventually just have to settle for as this situation between Simmons and the Sixers has the potential to get uglier and uglier.

"[via Stephen A. Smith]“The Portland Trail Blazers, from what I’m told, obviously they’re talking about C.J. McCollum. They’re talking about Robert Covington. They’re talking about a couple of first-round picks,” Smith said. “They don’t want to put it out there because you don’t want to alienate C.J. McCollum in the event that you keep him, but nevertheless, it’s something that they’ve been willing to offer. The Sixers have not been willing to bite.”"

Even though I would suggest taking this “report” or information with a grain of salt, we also shouldn’t discount everything that SAS is saying. He’s absolutely tied into some NBA circles and if he’s hearing the Blazers would be willing to make this kind of offer, perhaps there is something to it.

The Blazers and Sixers making a deal, centered around the exchange of McCollum and Simmons, is one of the most sensible rumored deals. There are a lot of wishful rumored packages out there that don’t really make much sense. This one is actually quite fair, assuming the Blazers could get enough draft capital to make it that much more interesting.

McCollum and Covington on the surface would be a good on-the-court return for Simmons, especially considering the current circumstances.

At this point, it’s unlikely that the Sixers are going to get full value on a Simmons trade – unless they hold out on making a deal and he can rebuild his trade value by playing the best basketball of his career to start the season.

It likely won’t get much better than getting an all-star caliber player in McCollum and a championship piece with Covington.

A Simmons trade doesn’t feel imminent, but I would be extremely surprised if the Blazers didn’t make a strong push for him when he’s traded.