NBA Trade Rumors: 5 teams that must make a move at the 2022 deadline
By Kyle McKee
NBA teams that need to make a trade: Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers have made the playoffs eight straight seasons – the longest active streak in the NBA. However, that streak’s looking like it will come to an end this year.
Portland is currently nine games below .500, with a record of 14-23. On the bright side, they are only one game back of the final play-in spot, but, at the same time, they are only four games ahead of the last-place Houston Rockets.
There are two options this Blazers’ front office can decide to go in: either try and salvage the season by trading some key pieces like CJ McCollum and build a better roster around Damian Lillard or finally decide to blow it all up. It feels like they should opt for the latter.
The first deal they can make that comes to mind is a trade that Philadelphia 76ers general manager Daryl Morey has been waiting for: a Dame for Ben Simmons swap.
Portland hasn’t pulled the trigger on it yet because Dame has not requested a trade and has been adamant in wanting to stay in Portland. But, the Blazers are ways away from being a contender, let alone a playoff team. So if you’re the Portland front office, why not deal Dame for Ben Simmons and start rebuilding? With how the situation in Philadelphia has played out with Ben, Portland could even get more than just Simmons in return.
Simmons’ abilities have been “poo-pooed” since his playoff debacle a season ago. People have forgotten just how special this guy is. Simmons is still one of the best defenders in the league, with incredible court vision. The guy’s a winning basketball player. Just look at the difference between the Sixers this season and last. Simmons would be a great way for Portland to kick-start a rebuild.
If not Simmons, then Portland could look to get a massive haul of picks or young prospects or a combination of both in return for Dame to set themselves up for future success.
Dame, CJ, Robert Covington, Larry Nance Jr and Jursuf Nurkic are all players that would demand value on the trade market. It’s time for Portland to blow it up. If not now, then when?