[octothorp]

Simmons just annoys me so much. I can't think of another situation where you've got one star who cares so much about winning and success and clearly loves playing the game so much (Embiid) and another who just seems like he doesn't care at all. Usually I'd think that this is an opportunity for a team to buy low, give a guy a change of scenery and turn him into a useful asset to either keep or flip. But Simmons seems like maybe he's beyond 'change of scenery' level fixes.

The trade I've seen suggested that makes some sense to me is McCollum for Simmons. Simmons could do better alongside a major-gravity shotmaker like Lillard plus an elite slasher like Powell, while massively upgrading Portland's defense.

If I was developing an offensive system around Simmons (as he is now, not hoping that he'd become a shooter), I'd develop him as a roll-man in pick-and-roll schemes, taking advantage of his finishing ability or dropping into open space and immediately making the extra pass. He's had some success with that role in Philly (particularly last year with Richardson as the ball-handler), but Rivers hasn't really tried that much this year from what I've seen. Lillard would be an ideal PG to pair him with on that type of play.