Ben Simmons Trade Rumors: Damian Lillard's Fit with 76ers Star Questioned by Blazers

Now that Ben Simmons has reportedly made it known that he wants to leave the Philadelphia 76ers, the Portland Trail Blazers have often come up as a potential landing spot because of the tightrope they appear to be walking with Damian Lillard. 

Per Aaron Fentress of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Blazers aren't keen on adding Simmons in a potential swap for CJ McCollum because "they are not sure how well Simmons and Lillard would fit together."

Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Tuesday that Simmons told Sixers management, including head coach Doc Rivers and president Daryl Morey, he wants to be traded and doesn't intend to report to training camp. 

Since the end of last season, much of the league's trade speculation has revolved around the Blazers and Sixers. 

Rivers told reporters in the wake of the team's Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 7 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, "I don’t know the answer to that" when asked if Simmons could be the starting point guard on a championship squad. 

The trade talk in Portland has been centered on Lillard, though there has been no indication from the team or All-Star guard that a split is imminent. A deal involving McCollum and Pascal Siakam was discussed with the Toronto Raptors earlier this summer, per B/R's Jake Fischer. 

The Athletic's Jason Quick reported in July that McCollum wouldn't be "enticing enough" for Morey to trade Simmons. 

He is immensely talented, only 25 years old and under contract through 2024-25. He's also a difficult player to fit into an established system. 

A three-time All-Star and two-time All-Defensive first-team selection, Simmons has a diverse array of talents. His biggest problem, though, is an inability to shoot outside the paint. 

The Blazers could use a stalwart defender like Simmons, who can go one-on-one with some of the NBA's best wings. But Lillard will be the primary ball-handler on offense, which would make Simmons a problematic fit on that end.