Tag: C.J. McCollum

Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey was excited to battle against Blazers star duo

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey was happy to be able to compete against the star duo of the Portland Trail Blazers.

The NBA is filled with some of the best athletes in the world and it is exciting to go up and battle in these games as it gets the competitive juices going.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey was able to experience this on Saturday in the team’s 118-111 road loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Maxey had himself an impressive performance going for 28 points on 9-for-17 shooting while knocking down all nine of his free throws with nine assists and zero turnovers while battling against some elite competitors.

Those elite players are the Blazers star duo of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. Lillard had 39 points for Portland while McCollum had 18 so there were more lessons for the young Maxey to learn from, especially from Lillard.

“It’s great,” said Maxey. “It’s basketball so it’s a competition. You want to go against the best of the best and you want to stop the best of the best. You got to go through them to be who you want to be. He’s a great player, C.J. is a great player, the coaching staff does a great job of getting them into actions to get them to score. They are tough covers and it was cool. It was fun. Hats off to them.”

Maxey is continuing to grow as a player so now, he has to be able to take these lessons and add to his game. Lillard and the Blazers were the more physical team from the jump on Saturday and the Sixers have to understand that they can’t let teams push them around.

“They were more physical than us to start the game,” Maxey added. “Coach Doc [Rivers] was talking about it at halftime. They pushed us out of our spots, they took us out of our actions. We can’t let that happen again.”

The Sixers will now travel to northern California to take on the Sacramento Kings on Monday to continue their 6-game road trip.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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New trade suggestion has Sixers moving Tobias Harris to Trail Blazers

A new trade suggestion has the Philadelphia 76ers moving Tobias Harris rather than Ben Simmons.

The Philadelphia 76ers have been involved in trade rumors all offseason regarding 25-year-old three-time All-Star Ben Simmons. After a disappointing playoff run, Simmons has been at the center of almost every trade rumor and trade suggestion since the second-round loss.

However, this trade suggestion focuses on Tobias Harris.

Assuming the Sixers can mend their fractured relationship with Simmons, Philadelphia can still focus on trying to win a title with him and Embiid as the fulcrum. They will need to find an upgrade out on the perimeter: a guy who can break down a defense and knock down tough shots.

A new trade suggestion from Bleacher Report has the Sixers finding that guy in the form of C.J. McCollum from the Portland Trail Blazers. In order to get him, they have the Sixers sending Harris to the Blazers:

McCollum would shine as the lead ball-handler in Philly after putting up 23.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and shooting 40.2 percent from three as a second backcourt option in Portland. He’s never played with a frontcourt talent like Joel Embiid before, and there’s plenty of shooters (Seth Curry, Danny Green) to kick out to as well.

Moving Harris for McCollum gives the Sixers more Simmons trade possibilities as well.

While the Sixers were likely focused on getting an All-Star guard back in return, they can now focus on trade partners offering frontcourt talent instead.

A move like this would potentially move Simmons off the ball and have McCollum as Philadelphia’s main ball-handler. McCollum has never been an All-Star, like Harris, but he has also played in the Western Conference where he has had elite guards ahead of him. He has averaged at least 20 points per game every season since 2015-16 and he can put the ball in the basket when the time calls for it.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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New trade suggestion: Sixers move star Ben Simmons for C.J. McCollum

A new trade suggestion has the Philadelphia 76ers moving Ben Simmons for C.J. McCollum.

The only real question surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers as they enter training camp in a few weeks is Ben Simmons. The Sixers have been taking trade calls on the 25-year-old, and the embattled star has had enough. He now wants out.

A ton of trade suggestions and rumors have circulated since Simmons’ trade demand went public, and this one is no different. The trade suggestions are always intriguing, and there is always some analysis that comes with it.

In the latest trade suggestion by Bleacher Report, Simmons heads to the Portland Trail Blazers, not for Damian Lillard, but for C.J. McCollum, a 2023 first-round pick swap and a 2024 first-round pick.

B/R on the deal:

For Philadelphia, McCollum is older, smaller and perhaps has a lower talent ceiling. However, his fit alongside Joel Embiid would be worlds better.

Over the last two seasons (and postseasons), McCollum has put up 26.5 points, 6.9 assists and 2.9 threes per 75 possessions when playing without Lillard. He’s shown he can dominate as a No. 1 ballhandler, and his outside shooting ability would keep defenders away from Embiid’s post-ups.

McCollum would be a huge help on the offensive end as he would provide some much-needed shot creation on this offense, but he would be a bit of a detriment on the defensive end. It would put more pressure on Joel Embiid and Matisse Thybulle to step up and replace what they will be losing in Simmons on the defensive end.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Sixers unlikely to trade Ben Simmons to Blazers for C.J. McCollum

The Philadelphia 76ers are unlikely to move Ben Simmons to the Portland Trail Blazers for C.J. McCollum.

The Philadelphia 76ers are moving forward into the offseason looking to find ways to upgrade their roster following another disappointing playoff finish in 2021. They were the No. 1 seed in the East, but they fell in Game 7 at home in Round 2 of the playoffs to the No. 5 seed Atlanta Hawks.

Since then, there have been loud trade rumors for star Ben Simmons who struggled mightily on offense in the postseason. He shot only 34.2% from the foul line for the entirety of the playoffs and it affected his aggressiveness greatly as it seemed that he was afraid to be fouled.

Philadelphia badly needs shot creation around Joel Embiid in order to move forward and there have been hopes that the Sixers could land Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers. However, there have also been talks about his backcourt mate, C.J. McCollum.

According to a report by Jason Quick of The Athletic, the Sixers are unlikely to move Simmons for McCollum even if the package included a younger player like Nassir Little:

McCollum likely isn’t enticing enough to pry Ben Simmons from Philadelphia, even though their salaries virtually match. Olshey is known to be close friends with Daryl Morey, his counterpart in Philadelphia, but that friendship won’t be a factor whether Morey considers a McCollum-based offer, even if the pot is sweetened with young players such as Simons or Little.

It makes sense that the Sixers would be unlikely to pull this move. Philadelphia wants an All-Star in return for Simmons and while McCollum is a talented player and he is a guy who provides a skill that they need, he is not going to be enough for Philadelphia to move a young and talented All-Star like Simmons.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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C.J. McCollum offers high praise of LaMelo Ball: ‘He’s ahead of his time’

Add C.J. McCollum to the list of NBA players and coaches to come away impressed with LaMelo Ball after his rookie season.

LaMelo Ball’s rookie season featured a host of players and coaches coming away impressed with the guard in his inaugural NBA season. Whether it was Donovan Mitchell, Draymond Green, Rick Carlisle or Scott Brooks, Ball had seemingly everyone he played walking away from their meeting with high praise.

Blazers guard C.J. McCollum was the latest to offer his praise of the youngest Ball brother. Appearing on “Full Bodied” for Bleacher Report with Channing Frye, McCollum compared NBA players, including Ball, to wine while also giving high praise to Ball in the process (h/t FadeAway World).

“The ceiling is very, very high. A lot of upside…The game, it leaves you like ‘Wow.’ He’s ahead of his time from a vision standpoint. When (Michael Jordan) is saying he’s better than we thought, you know you’re doing what you’re supposed to do.”

Ball had one of his best games against the Blazers in Portland this season. In the middle of a West Coast road trip just prior to the All-Star break, Ball had perhaps the best stretch of games of his rookie season, culminating in 30 points, eight assists, six rebounds and four steals, one of just two 30-point games from Ball on the year.

Following the game, he received praise – and permission to use the Melo nickname – from Carmelo Anthony.

“I think LaMelo is somebody who’s going to be in this game for a long time, so the name Melo, you guys might as well continue using that. I don’t get into that, though. For me, it’s a respect thing. It’s an honor for him to have that name, for him to embrace it, for him to do the celebration. It’s an honor; it’s a blessing. It’s a respect thing for me. I embrace him.”

Considering the trophies Ball has racked up in the wake of his season, including the league’s Rookie of the Year award, the future looks exceedingly bright.

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New trade suggestion has Sixers sending Ben Simmons to Trail Blazers

A new trade suggestion has the Philadelphia 76ers sending Ben Simmons to the Portland Trail Blazers.

In a new trade suggestion posted by Bleacher Report, the site has the Philadelphia 76ers trading beleaguered guard Ben Simmons to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for C.J. McCollum:

In Philly, McCollum would provide the self-sufficient shot-creation that has been lacking for all of the Joel Embiid era. Those bogged-down late-game possessions that so often resulted in poor looks would be a thing of the past with McCollum in Simmons’ place. Suddenly, the Sixers would have a bucket-getter, who, at the very worst, could bail them out with slithery mid-range jumpers.

That McCollum is also a career 39.8 percent 3-point shooter on steadily increasing volume (up to 8.9 attempts per game last year) is a bonus. Good luck doubling Embiid when McCollum, Seth Curry, Danny Green (or his free-agent replacement) and Tobias Harris are spotted up around the arc.

McCollum averaged 23.1 points and 4.7 assists this past season in Portland, and he would be a big help to Philadelphia by providing that big scorer from the perimeter. However, the Sixers would rather have Damian Lillard, understandably. If they can’t get Lillard, they would probably rather move on to another star-caliber player.

As mentioned previously, Philadelphia will not just trade Simmons just to do it even if the calls for a deal have grown deafening in the wake of the 24-year-old All-Star’s offensive shortcomings being on full display during the playoffs and being a reason the team was eliminated in seven games in the second round by Atlanta.

The Sixers need something of real value in return, such as another All-Star. If they can’t get what they’re looking for, there is not much reason to move him. Coach Doc Rivers has expressed his belief in the young guard in the past, so there are some within the organization who believe he can develop and grow into the player the Sixers need.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Stein: Sixers want Damian Lillard, not C.J. McCollum, in potential trade

The Philadelphia 76ers have their eyes on Damian Lillard, not C.J. McCollum, in a potential trade.

Probably the league’s worst kept secret was let out of the bag on Tuesday when it was reported that the Sixers are now looking into trades for All-Star Ben Simmons. The calls to trade him have grown loud since the team’s Game 7 loss home loss in Round 2 to the Atlanta Hawks on June 20 and it makes sense why they are loud.

Simmons shot just 34.2% from the free-throw line during the postseason and he still refuses to take any shots outside of the paint. Those shortcomings were highlighted in a big way in the playoffs and it hurt the Sixers on the offensive end at times.

Considering that he is just 24-years old and he is a 3-time All-Star, the value for Simmons is still there. Some believe that they should move him to the Portland Trail Blazers for C.J. McCollum, but president Daryl Morey has bigger fish to fry.

According to Marc Stein, who previously covered the NBA for ESPN as well as The New York Times and The Dallas Morning News, reported that Morey has his eyes on Blazers star Damian Lillard:

All teams covet the biggest stars, but Morey is especially obsessive about it. He will surely tune out the naysayers who suggest Simmons can no longer be the centerpiece for the acquisition of a Bradley Beal-type superstar. Portland’s CJ McCollum has been mentioned often as a potential Sixers target in a Simmons deal; rest assured that Morey longs for Damian Lillard if he is targeting any Trail Blazer.

Morey is not afraid to pull the trigger on any deal and it has been reported in the past that the Sixers are hoping for a chance to grab Lillard. It would probably take more than just Simmons, but the Sixers can make him the centerpiece on any potential deal.

The potential partnership of Lillard and Joel Embiid opens up a lot of possibilities for Philadelphia on the offensive end of the floor. Lillard obviously has deep range that spaces the floor even more for the big fella to go to work. The pick-and-roll between Lillard and Embiid would also offer more opportunities for easy points because of the different ways Lillard can score.

If Morey can pull off a deal for the Blazers star, it would put them right back at the forefront of the Eastern Conference title conversation for the 2021-22 season.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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C.J. McCollum reacts to Anthony Edwards’ claim that Damian Lillard can’t rap

The Trail Blazers guard gave Edwards some friendly advice after he recently called out Damian Lillard for his rapping ability.

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Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum fired back at Anthony Edwards on Tuesday after the No. 1 overall pick took an apparent shot at his teammate, Damian Lillard, and his abilities as a rapper.

Edwards appeared in an interview last week with Alex Scarborough of ESPN and proceeded to trash-talk Lillard and his lyrics behind the mic. The former Georgia Bulldogs guard said in the interview that he raps himself but not quite like Lillard.

“But I really can rap,” Edwards said. “Dame, talking about — I don’t know what he’s talking about. I’m rapping like Lil Baby.”

McCollum, who appeared on the “Load Management” podcast on Complex Sports, responded to Edwards’ claim that Lillard can’t rap and offered a piece of advice for the 19-year-old as he makes the transition into the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Of course, Lillard, aka Dame DOLLA, has been rapping for much of his life and has released three albums to this point. On the flip side, Edwards said he won’t release any music until he establishes his career in the NBA so the jury is still out on which player is the better rapper.

Edwards will certainly enter the NBA with a bit of target on his back as the first pick in the draft and that likely just got even bigger after his recent comments toward Lillard. Certainly, the Timberwolves’ first game versus the Trail Blazers will be worth watching…

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B/R trade suggestion has Sixers moving Tobias Harris to Trail Blazers

A new trade suggestion has the Philadelphia 76ers sending Tobias Harris to the Portland Trail Blazers.

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The Philadelphia 76ers are entering a brand new era in their franchise’s history with the hiring of Doc Rivers as their new head coach and Daryl Morey as their President of Basketball Operations. Their presence brings in new hope that they can turn it around.

Morey has a history of being able to work his magic in terms of making bold trades for his team to be competitive in the title chase. He pulled the trigger on a lot of moves for the Houston Rockets and there is hope that he can move one of the bigger contracts on the roster in Tobias Harris or Al Horford.

In a new trade suggestion from Bleacher Report, they have the Sixers sending Harris and the number 21 pick in November’s draft to the Portland Trail Blazers for C.J. McCollum.

B/R on the deal:

It’s an interesting concept, especially if the Blazers could squeeze a first-rounder out of Philly. That wouldn’t be the easiest sell, as Harris’ 6’8″ size alone makes him less of a defensive liability, but McCollum’s sniping and table-setting should have a bigger impact than any of Harris’ secondary skills. Plus, Harris is a little more pricey (four years, $147.3 million), so it could happen.

Philadelphia would find its perimeter shot-creator without having to break apart Simmons and Embiid or sacrificing Matisse Thybulle. If McCollum proves to be the Sixers’ missing piece, then the first-rounder becomes a small price to pay.

McCollum would be a very good addition to this team. He can shoot the heck out of the ball, he has the ability to step up in crunch time situations, and he can put the ball on the floor which is a huge need for the Sixers at the moment.

On the flip side, Philadelphia will most likely have to sacrifice more than just the number 21 pick in order to move Harris’ contract. He is a very good player, but he is not worth the deal he is currently on and Philadelphia would probably have to surrender Matisse Thybulle or Shake Milton to make the deal work. [lawrence-related id=38777,38763,38770]

Sixers’ Tobias Harris to appear on ‘Remaking America’ with Kamala Harris

Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris will join Kamala Harris on “Remaking America”.

The United States is currently in an election year as the 2020 presidential election is merely weeks away. The focus of most is to send a message to vote.

The Philadelphia 76ers are a team that has been sending that message to their fans with their own initiative called “Vote 76” in order to educate everybody on the importance of voting. Now, one of their leaders is getting set to join a roundtable discussion on trying to improve the country.

Tobias Harris has been the team’s leader in social justice messages and their team initiatives and he announced on Instagram that he is getting set to appear on “Remaking America”. He will be joining fellow NBA players, C.J. McCollum of the Portland Trail Blazers and Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz, while also joining Vice President candidate Kamala Harris.

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The NBA has been one of the leaders in social justice messaging recently as the teams and players have taken things into their own hands moving forward. Everybody in this country has the freedom to voice their own opinion and to let their voices be heard by voting who they think should be leading the country. Harris will be able to lead the charge for change that is needed at the moment. [lawrence-related id=38449,38436,38433]