If you read the title, don’t freak out. This isn’t an article that is about trading Ben Simmons for Lonzo Ball. No this is to dive into what a potential trade would make the Philadelphia 76ers look like with the trio of Simmons, Ball, and Joel Embiid. I said I would write this article on The Sixer Sense Podcast’s 100th episode, so check it out after you finish reading this article.
The reason why this trade is being explored is because it seems unlikely that Simmons can be traded from the Sixers for equal value. It seems more than likely that the 76ers will need to change Simmons’ role and position to more of a secondary playmaker at the power forward position.
If that does seem to be the case, the Sixers will need a legit point guard. While I’m high on Tyrese Maxey being that point guard, the front office may not feel the same way. Between Ball and Maxey, Ball is the more experienced player as well as the better playmaker, defender, 3-point shooter at this time which is important for what Embiid and Simmons need around them.
Potential three-team trade for Ball: The trade
That being written, below is a hypothetical three team that could land Philly the oldest of the Ball brothers. This trade was made on fansop.com and all financials worked on this trade with Ball having a cap hold of $27.5 million, although he probably wouldn’t make that much in a sign-and-trade.
It’s a pretty basic trade for all three clubs. The Sixers get Ball as well as the 35th pick, via the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New Orleans Pelicans get Kemba Walker, and the Oklahoma City Thunder receive Tobias Harris as well as the 76ers 2021 first round pick, which is the 28th pick. For each team, this hypothetical trade makes sense. Let’s see why this fake trade makes sense for these franchises.