NBA Power Rankings: Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers at the center of chaos

Philadelphia 76ers Ben Simmons (Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
Philadelphia 76ers Ben Simmons (Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
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Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

15. Portland Trail Blazers

Short of making another move before the playoffs, I’m not that high on the Portland Trail Blazers. I believe that the duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum has reached its ceiling and I’m not sure this team can be anything more than a lower-seeded playoff team.

Again, that probably all changes if they can swing a trade – perhaps for Ben Simmons – but I don’t believe this team is ready to make a rash change such as that one. Lillard could be playing his last season in Portland too.

Especially if the team doesn’t make any substantial steps forward. You’d have to think that they have to make a deep playoff run for Lillard to be appeased by the inactivity from the franchise for another offseason.