Ben Simmons to Warriors framework #2 — Sixers bring in Hornets
Sixers receive…
- Gordon Hayward
- Miles Bridges
- #11 pick
- #14 pick
Warriors receive…
- Ben Simmons
- #28 pick
Hornets receive…
- Draymond Green
- James Wiseman
Again, the Sixers receive two lottery picks. This time, it comes with a nice combination of players from Charlotte — Gordon Hayward, a top-50 player, and young gun Miles Bridges, who still has room to grow and gives Philadelphia a bigger second-unit wing that was lacking in the postseason.
The Sixers can either flip the picks for another piece, or just draft two plug-and-play rookies, of which the lottery has plenty this year. Again, this seems like a low price for Ben Simmons, who has made three All-Star appearances by the age of 24, but such is the market right now.
Hayward and Bridges would both help considerably, but the Sixers would have to look elsewhere for another playmaking vessel. Perhaps turn this into a four-teamer, and try to swap Hayward for CJ McCollum, or try to flip Tobias Harris into Kemba Walker. There are endless avenues if Daryl Morey is creative enough to think them.
In the end, this trade would mean the Sixers are angsty when it comes to Ben Simmons. This is not a trade befitting a team with leverage. If the Sixers are genuinely comfortable rostering Ben Simmons at the start of next season, do not expect this move to happen. That said, there’s serious reason to doubt Philadelphia is willing to roster Simmons next season. The pressure to appease Joel Embiid and make foundational change is at an all-time high.
The Hornets also get a lot better. Draymond Green is the kind of leader who can elevate the young pieces to another level, while James Wiseman is probably who Charlotte preferred in last year’s draft, but it was LaMelo Ball who fell to No. 3 instead. The Warriors and Hornets leap at the opportunity here.