After months of speculation, we are finally (hopefully)
approaching the finish line of the Ben Simmons saga.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe, the
Philadelphia 76ers are garnering much more interest in potential
two- or three-team deals involving Simmons as more than 85% of the
NBA’s players will be eligible to trade next week.
Before the Association’s biggest domino falls, which teams make
sense as a landing spot for the 25-year-old three-time All-Star?
Will Simmons flourish elsewhere in a bigger role?
The Simmons-Sixers situation could truly end up being a win-win
scenario for both sides, so let’s examine some potential trades
that make sense for the disgruntled point-forward.
SACRAMENTO
KINGS
The pressure is on for Sacramento to finally field a winning
team and snap their 15-year playoff drought. Since the offseason,
we've suggested that the Kings finally push their chips into the
middle of the table and make an aggressive win-now move.
Simmons would be the perfect piece to fit into their puzzle
alongside De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton. The Kings’ backcourt
duo had a positive net rating last season, and adding Simmons to
the mix gives them a very fun playmaking trio that can play off one
another.
Playing the four alongside Richaun Holmes provides little
spacing, but Simmons could become the de-facto primary ball-handler
with Fox and Haliburton providing spacing around the perimeter. A
potential starting unit featuring Fox, Haliburton, Harrison Barnes,
Simmons and Richaun Holmes could hold up on both ends of the
court.
However, Philadelphia continues to hold out hope that they'll
get a top-25 player in return for Simmons. Would Sacramento feel
comfortable saying goodbye to Fox, who just signed a five-year
rookie-scale max extension? Philadelphia has been reluctant to
discuss deals with Sacramento unless it includes Fox. With
Haliburton and Davion Mitchell as their last two lottery picks,
maybe Kings GM Monte McNair will shake things up in a major manner?
Let’s start our first scenario with a league-altering
blockbuster:
Philadelphia receives: De’Aaron Fox
Sacramento receives: Ben Simmons
MINNESOTA
TIMBERWOLVES
In a similar position as Sacramento, Minnesota could rise in the
Western Conference standings if they make the right move.
Karl-Anthony Towns is a bonafide superstar, while Anthony Edwards has great
potential. Adding Simmons to the Timberwolves’ lineup would
make them a more well-rounded team.
The question is, would Minnesota pull the trigger on trading
Towns’ good friend D’Angelo Russell? If so, Minnesota’s new Big 3
would be outstanding.
Imagine the endless possibilities with Simmons flanking Towns
and Edwards. The Wolves’ primary scoring duo could still have their
way offensively, but Simmons would be the glue holding everything
together from a playmaking and defensive standpoint.
Philadelphia receives: D’Angelo Russell, Jaden McDaniels,
Leandro Bolmaro, future first-round pick
Minnesota receives: Ben Simmons
SAN ANTONIO
SPURS
San Antonio has been surprisingly competitive this season. Spurs
head coach Gregg Popovich really has this intriguing young core
humming, and they’re one big move away from potentially making some
noise in the Western Conference.
An interesting note to report from longtime NBA insider Marc Stein
is that Simmons would welcome a trade to San Antonio. Also,
Popovich would love to coach a player like Simmons. This sounds
like a perfect marriage on paper, so let’s make it happen.
San Antonio can offer Philadelphia a very enticing package of
young prospects and picks. It may not fit the “top-25 player”
criteria that Sixers GM Daryl Morey is hoping for, but it could get
pretty close. The Spurs have a number of really attractive assets,
but it remains to be seen how many they'd be willing to move.
San Antonio has a strong ecosystem in which Simmons could
rebuild his value. Surrounded by plus role players who thrive
within San Antonio’s system, Simmons can reach his ceiling in a
role where everything is built around his strengths.
Philadelphia receives: Derrick White, Keldon Johnson,
Thaddeus Young, draft compensation
San Antonio receives: Ben Simmons
WASHINGTON
WIZARDS
One team that has finally built around their star the right way
is Washington, as they've surrounded Bradley Beal with a competent
roster. However, Beal is in the final year of his deal.
Would Simmons work well alongside Beal? That’s a legitimate
concern, but making this deal is a home-run swing that could be
necessary for Beal to commit long-term in the nation’s capital.
Simmons and Beal flanked by shooters and prospects would give
Washington a nice foundation for Wizards GM Tommy Shepard to build
around for the next five-plus years.
Philadelphia receives: Davis Bertans, Kyle Kuzma, Deni
Avdija, two future first-round picks
Washington receives: Ben Simmons
TORONTO
RAPTORS
Another team that's facing a fork in the road with their current
roster, Toronto has to decide what to do with Pascal Siakam. Over
the offseason, there were reports that Siakam could be available.
Will Toronto keep Siakam around with their young core or flip him
for more long-term value?
If the Raptors want to offload Siakam and make an aggressive
win-now push, enter Simmons.
A potential lineup of Simmons alongside Fred VanVleet, OG
Anunoby, Scottie Barnes and Precious Achiuwa sounds like something
Toronto would love to try.
This could be a win-win deal for both sides as they begin new
eras for their respective organizations. Siakam and Embiid is a
terrifying frontcourt for Philadelphia, and the duo would allow
Tobias Harris to slide back to the small forward position.
Meanwhile, Toronto brings Simmons aboard as their new face of the
franchise with a solid young nucleus surrounding him.
Philadelphia receives: Pascal Siakam
Toronto receives: Ben Simmons
INDIANA
PACERS
No surprise, Indiana is another team that could be staring down
the barrel of important, franchise-altering decisions within a
year. The Pacers have a very good, balanced roster that’s been
plagued by injuries over the last few seasons. T.J. Warren, who
broke out in a huge way during the Orlando Bubble, only played four
games during the 2019-20 campaign. Caris LeVert missed time due to
a cancerous tumor that was discovered after the James Harden trade.
Myles Turner and Malcolm Brogdon continue to miss time here and
there due to various injuries as well.
The Pacers are about to blow everything up, though (and it's long overdue). Indiana is
likely to move Caris LeVert with
Chris Duarte’s fast emergence, plus one of their two bigs: Domantas Sabonis or Myles Turner.
Indiana sniffed around Simmons' availability last offseason too.
Since it's tough to pitch top free agents on coming to
Indianapolis, making an aggressive trade might be the only way to
land their star.
Although one of Turner or Sabonis would need to be moved to a
third team in this hypothetical scenario, especially to meet
Philadelphia's asking price for Simmons, Indiana going star hunting
could be the necessary tweak to change their long-term
fortunes.
Philadelphia receives: Caris LeVert, Justin Holiday, Jeremy
Lamb, two future first-round picks (plus more from a third
team)
Indiana receives: Ben Simmons
PORTLAND TRAIL
BLAZERS
The Blazers are stuck in the middle, which is the worst place to
be. With that being said, it’s time to finally break up the Damian
Lillard, C.J. McCollum backcourt. Portland needs to finally make an
aggressive push in order to put the right pieces around Lillard and
turn this team into a contender.
A deal revolving around Simmons and McCollum makes sense for
both parties. McCollum can function as a score-first combo guard
who can play well off of Embiid, while Simmons provides a beautiful
blend of playmaking and defense alongside Lillard.
McCollum recently suffered a collapsed lung, which could
complicate things. Prior to the injury, he followed all of the
Sixers on social media and all but said goodbye to Portland
and the fan base, so it remains to be seen what the future holds
for McCollum.
Philadelphia receives: C.J. McCollum, Nassir Little, two
future first-round picks
Portland receives: Ben Simmons
Simmons' future is the biggest storyline around the NBA. Odds
are, he'll be moved to the highest bidder before February’s trade
deadline. Perhaps it'll end up being one of the aforementioned
teams.