Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons-Trae Young swap is intriguing hypothetical

The Philadelphia 76ers shouldn’t openly pursue Ben Simmons trades. If they do, however, it’s difficult to imagine a better return than Trae Young.

I have stood firm in my belief that the Philadelphia 76ers should keep Ben Simmons at all costs. He’s already a top-20 player, and his skill package will only improve from here. He’s 23, he’s a one-percent athlete, and he’s a two-time All-Star in three NBA seasons. Not shabby.

While I’m on the high end of the spectrum when it comes to Simmons’ NBA valuation, there is no indication Philadelphia plans to search the market for a trade. Simmons and Joel Embiid have a proven track record of success, and one can hardly pin the Sixers’ current issues on Simmons. He could stand to shoot more — of course — but that’s not a primary, or even a secondary detriment to the Sixers’ success.

If the Sixers were to pursue a Simmons trade, however, few names are more appealing than Trae Young. In a recent Bleacher Report article on blockbuster trade proposals for every franchise, the idea of a Young-Simmons swap was brought to the table. Our friends over at Soaring Down South have already touched on the allure of such a trade — for both teams.

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On the surface, it’s very much a tantalizing offer. The Hawks get someone who can supercharge the offense without dragging down the defense. The Sixers get a deep-deep threat, an equally elite playmaker, and a much cleaner fit next to Embiid.

Young would bring about aesthetic improvements to the Sixers’ current scheme. While Simmons is an undeniably elite talent, one would be foolish to ignore the sometimes clunky nature of his fit. It’s not all his fault — the front office has done a condemnable job building around their two stars — but in the end, Simmons does have one glaring weakness for teams to occasionally exploit.

In Young, the Sixers would add a game-breaking shooter to balance out Embiid’s brutality in the paint. They would also add an every craftier passer — the current league-leader in assists, and one of the most dynamic pick-and-roll operators in basketball today. Young can pressure defenses at every level, both as a pull-up shooter and as a passer. At no point is he not a threat, even working off-ball.

The core issue with Young — and the reason I’m skeptical of a Young-Simmons swap in the end — is his defense. He’s a scrawny 6-foot-2 by NBA standards, and Young’s efforts on the defensive end don’t exactly warrant high acclaim. He’s statistically (and visually) one of the worst defenders in basketball.

Philadelphia would provide as good a home as any for Young. He’d have the luxury of an all-world backstop in Embiid, who can clean up a lot of messes on defense. Not to mention Josh Richardson and Matisse Thybulle, both of whom are rangy defenders who can help cover for Young’s ineptitude.

If Young is going to win a championship as a defensive zero, he’s going to need elite personnel around him. The Hawks have made progress with the addition of Clint Capela, but the Sixers have the pieces necessary to mitigate some of Young’s more noticeable flaws.

When push comes to shove, however, I struggle to justify a Simmons trade. Unless he explicitly asks for one at the beginning of a five-year extension, the Sixers have little motive to swap the two-time All-Star for anyone — even a rising star as well-suited to Philadelphia’s current needs as Young.

Young would still poke a sizable hole in the Sixers’ top-tier defense, whereas Simmons has a real case for Defensive Player of the Year. At 6-foot-10, Simmons can credibly defend all five positions, and he’s one of the best on-ball defenders in the world. Young is the basketball equivalent of the swinging doors in an old-west saloon.

I’m fairly confident Young would improve the Sixers’ offense, but I’m not certain it’s by a large enough margin to warrant the defensive slippage. For all the noise about his poor fit, the Sixers are at their best when Simmons and running and gunning. He has developed a nice chemistry with Embiid, and when the pieces around them fit, the Sixers’ two stars tend to produce winning basketball.

The Sixers should focus on improving the roster around Embiid and Simmons. Trade Al Horford. Explore the possibilities of a Josh Richardson deal. Maybe even probe the market for Tobias Harris‘ mega-contract. All three should hit the trade block before Simmons even sniffs an uncertain future.

This opinion could look foolish in a few years. Young is truly a special talent, and there’s a real chance his offense outweighs Simmons’ defense in a few years time. For the Sixers, it’s a matter of betting on Simmons’ future. He has an equally bright road ahead, especially if his jump shot comes around to even the slightest degree.

Simmons is the better player right now, and the Sixers should hold on to the better player. The age difference is negligible, and Simmons is arguably the most versatile defender in basketball. Young is arguably the worst defender in basketball. That is, inevitably, the hang-up for me.

Young is an exciting proposition, but he’s not enough — not yet, at least — to force the Sixers’ hand in a Simmons deal.