But I still think the best options will come closer to the deadline when teams that have been struggling or teams that are on the brink of real contention will be looking to make moves.

Maybe the true contenders won't be clamoring for Simmons... but any team looking for longterm potential absolutely should be. As I mentioned in that other post, there are very, very few young players of Simmons's proven pedigree. Even with last year's shitty postseason, that doesn't change what he's been able to accomplish already. And it doesn't change what he can bring to the table.

If Beal wants out, Washington would be *insane* not to try to land Simmons. And if Lillard is disgruntled, even if Portland doesn't deal Lillard, they should be dealing CJ/Nance/picks as swiftly as they can.

>There's a LOT of competition for Beal and Lillard if they hit
>the market and people aren't going to be clamoring to get
>Simmons if he hasn't played ball in 8 months, can't shoot and
>is publicly disgruntled.
>
>It's going to have to be a 3-4 team deal and it probably won't
>be Beal or Lillard.