3 players the Trail Blazers should trade for to help Damian Lillard

2. Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers

Ben Simmons is a mess right now, shooting less than 34 percent from the free-throw line entering the Philadelphia 76ers‘ Game 7 against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. Add that to his ongoing aversion to shooting jump shots, and there’s only so much filling the stat sheet solidly and being one of the best defensive players in the league can cover for.

Questions regarding how Simmons and Joel Embiid fit together long-term are ongoing. Daryl Morey came in and made moves to add shooters like Seth Curry and Danny Green last offseason around the star duo after his predecessor Elton Brand went the other direction. But Simmons got into foul trouble and contributed little in Game 6, as Tyrese Maxey brought juice off the bench in his place. The 76ers are practically succeeding in spite of Simmons, and if they reach the Eastern Conference Finals, it may be tough to hide him.

In a broad sense, a change of scenery might do Simmons a lot of good. His flaws as a shooter are not going away, and whatever work he may be doing to improve has not taken root in games. At this point, as things like that can go, it’s a mental thing for him.

But Simmons’ strengths (defense, passing, rebounding) would fit very nicely in Portland. Lillard is the star and go-to guy in the clutch, while Simmons can take on the role of defensive stopper late in games against the opponent’s top option.

A one-for-one deal works perfectly here, though the Sixers would definitely need a few draft picks in return on top of McCollum.