Sixers: 3 possible Ben Simmons trade scenarios with Timberwolves

Timberwolves Ben Simmons trade scenario #2 — Collin Sexton to Sixers

Another three-teamer, this time with Cleveland jumping in the mix. The Cavs will reportedly consider moving Collin Sexton, and for good reason. He’s in line for a major extension next summer, and Cleveland probably needs to choose between one of their 6-foot guards eventually. Darius Garland is the better prospect.

That said, Sexton does have his intrigues. First and foremost, a simple glance at the numbers. In just his third NBA season, Sexton averaged 24.3 points and 4.4 assists on .475/.371/.815 shooting splits. He’s an efficient volume scorer, and that’s something the Sixers could use in Ben Simmons’ stead.

The downside to Sexton is the widespread speculation that his teammates despise him for a lack of team-oriented basketball. He can play selfishly at times, and while a shot-happy young guy in Cleveland is acceptable, Joel Embiid may not be so forgiving to a guard who doesn’t know his place on the roster.

This trade would require confidence on the Sixers’ part that Sexton’s strengths will translate, and his weaknesses will mitigate in the presence of a competitive roster and superior teammates. He has free reign in Cleveland, which would abruptly cease in Philadelphia. Doc Rivers is not my favorite coach — that is well documented — but he’s notorious for telling guys their roles and getting them to buy in. Sexton is a hard-worker with a clear dedication to personal improvement. There’s reason to believe he can improve in a different team context.

In addition to Sexton, the Sixers also get a veteran Ricky Rubio on an expiring $17.3 million contract — which can get moved for a different player before the trade deadline — and Malik Beasley once again. The Wolves get Ben, while the Cavs get more young prospects, a future first, and the luxury of not throwing $30 million at Collin Sexton. Everyone goes home happy, to some degree.

This trade (and the one before it), however, does leave Philadelphia with a start lack of perimeter defense. Outside of Matisse Thybulle, there aren’t any players on the roster who I would trust to contain elite guards and wings at the point of attack. It would therefore be prudent for Daryl Morey to make other moves, so as not to leave Joel Embiid on an island defensively. Also, Morey would need to consider the backfire potential of signing Sexton to such a massive deal.