C.J. McCollum Addresses Ben Simmons Rumors on 'Pull-Up' Podcast
C.J. McCollum isn't naive. A journalism major at Lehigh who always keeps his finger on the pulse of league drama, he's fully aware of the roster and salary dynamics that make him an increasingly frequent subject of hypothetical trade scenarios.
Even before Ben Simmons' debilitating offensive struggles that made it easy to believe he'd played his last game with the Philadelphia 76ers, McCollum candidly discussed what it's like to hear his name surface in trade rumors. He was even more forthright on Thursday's edition of the Pull Up Podcast, directly addressing the elephant in the room of everyone's favorite deal for Simmons.
Recapping the state of the Sixers after their embarrassing Game 7 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, McCollum made clear that he still believes in Simmons' talent.
People began to kind of question whether [Simmons is] gonna be in Philly long-term. Now, Ben Simmons is an extremely talented player," he said. "He's athletic, he has a high basketball IQ. Defensively he's one of the best defenders in the NBA. He can guard guards, wings centers. He can initiate the break. He's a special, special talent, but the confidence is just not there right now from a shooting standpoint. I think that's the next step for him obviously."
Why did McCollum decide to single out Simmons? Not just because the latter's damaging inability and reluctance to shoot is the talk of the NBA, but because McCollum knows what Simmons' increasingly uncertain future could mean for him.
"I only mention this because it's part of the NBA, and that also means that I'm gonna be involved in trades for Ben Simmons," McCollum said. "People are always going to start those types of rumors and things of that nature, and kind of compare and contrast because the salaries are alike, we go through a tough season in which we lose, they go through a tough season in which they lose. So the fans, experts, media, journalists begin to question and wonder whether a trade will happen for him to come to either Portland, or go to Indiana, or go to any other team with assets, picks and players."
There's been no reporting of even preliminary trade talks between the Sixers and Trail Blazers about Simmons and McCollum. Anyone submitting that proposal is doing so off pure conjecture, with the knowledge that both teams and both players may very well be better off if a deal was ultimately consummated.
Neil Olshey, remember, implied during his season-ending presser that Portland was unlikely to make major changes to its roster this summer. There have even been rumblings this week that Olshey has promised McCollum he won't be dealt before next season. Philadelphia, meanwhile, went from throwing Simmons under the bus in the immediate aftermath of its loss to the Hawks to less than 24 hours later preaching about his foundational place in the organization and plan to improve his jumper.
Just like it's foolish to buy into the Sixers' new narrative, though, it's similarly ignorant to assume Olshey wouldn't go back on his supposed word to McCollum if trading him pushed the Blazers closer to legitimate contention.
Would swapping McCollum for Simmons broaden Damian Lillard's championship window? It's certainly possible given the established ceiling of Portland's status quo, not to mention Simmons' defensive prowess and his vastly superior on-paper fit as Lillard's sidekick instead of Embiid's.
As for very real concerns about Simmons' shot? McCollum, for one, has confidence he'll put in the necessary work to get better—in Philadelphia, Portland or elsewhere.
"I had to discuss it," McCollum said of the rumors about he and Simmons. "I think going forward the Sixers obviously are gonna look to make some changes potentially, and it may or may not include Ben Simmons. But I think the fact of the matter is that he's 24 years old with a bright future. Just needs to tighten up his jumpshot, and I'm sure he'll work on that."