The Deal: Damian Lillard for Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas, Day'Ron Sharpe, a 2027 first-round pick from Philadelphia, a 2028 first-round pick from Phoenix and a 2029 first-round pick from Dallas
In the aggregate, the Brooklyn Nets received a massive haul of assets from various teams over the last few years. The deal that sent Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns was particularly lucrative for Brooklyn.
Now, if the Nets want to cash in a bunch of those chips, they might be able to top offers from a handful of other teams around the league.
Taking on Ben Simmons' contract is far from ideal, but it's necessary for salary-matching purposes under the collective bargaining agreement, and it expires in 2025 (Lillard's isn't done till 2027, assuming he picks up a $63.2 million player option).
This trade package is more about fliers on young talents Cam Thomas (who famously had four performances of at least 43 points this season) and Day'Ron Sharpe and three unprotected first-rounders from all over the NBA.
For a team embarking on a reboot, that'd be a great start.
The Nets' side of the deal, meanwhile, doesn't require a ton of explanation. Their wing-heavy rotation featuring Mikal Bridges, Royce O'Neale, Dorian Finney-Smith and Cameron Johnson (a restricted free agent, so Brooklyn can match any offer sheet he signs) would be able to cover for Lillard's defensive flaws in a way Portland couldn't.
And the offensive gravity Lillard generates would give all those wings more open looks from three.
Putting Lillard in Simmons' spot (which essentially gave Brooklyn nothing in 2022-23) would instantly put this team in contention for home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference first round.
