Potential three-team trade for Ball: Sixers’ perspectives
Like I wrote at the beginning of this article, this hypothetical deal is made if the Sixers decide they can’t get equal value for their elite defender. Changing Simmons’ position to secondary playmaker at the forward position would mean that the Sixers need a point guard who can create for others at a high level, floor space, and defend at a high level.
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Last season, Ball averaged a career high 14.6 points on 37.8 percent 3-point shooting on 8.3 attempts. He also averaged 4.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.5 steals. At 6-foot-6 Ball is a versatile defender. He was also play off the ball with ball handlers like Williamson and Ingram.
Playing alongside a guy like Simmons will make the duo a threat in the pick-and-roll, as well as in the fast break. Ball will be another player that can set up Embiid in the post as well. His perimeter defense will make Philly’s already elite defense even better.
Ball will certainly cost less than Harris’ $35.9 million dollar deal. He’d be salary cap relief for the franhise and if he, Simmons, and Embiid don’t work out, he’d be a lot easier to move in a future trade as Christopher Kline spoke about in The Sixer Sense Podcast episode written about at the beginning of this piece. Philly loses their first round pick but still gets a high second round pick, which has a similar value so they don’t lose much in this deal for draft capital.
Trading for Ball would open up different possibilities for the Philadelphia 76ers. Ball could be an ideal point guard to pair with Simmons and Embiid if the franchise keeps the duo together moving forward.