Sixers rumors: Pacers’ trade offer for Ben Simmons gets rejected

The Ben Simmons sweepstakes have already begun. According to Jason Dumas of Bleacher Report, the Philadelphia 76ers are committed to receiving another “All-Star caliber” player in exchange for the 24-year-old point guard. That rumor also comes with a potential baseline for Simmons’ trade market.

Indiana, fresh off a disappointing ninth-place finish in the East, reportedly offered Malcolm Brogdon and a first-round pick to acquire Simmons.

This is not the first time Brogdon has been brought up as a potential return for Ben Simmons, but the Sixers’ refusal of this offer does show Daryl Morey’s continued belief in Simmons — to a certain degree.

The Sixers refused to trade Ben Simmons for Malcolm Brogdon and a first-round pick. Now what?

It is abundantly clear the Sixers have fielded offers and will continue to field offers for Ben Simmons. There’s a chance we get a move on draft night. There’s even a chance we get a move before draft night. That said, there’s an equal — if not greater — chance we don’t get a move at all. Not before the regular season, at least.

Morey is not someone to throw money down the drain. Ben Simmons’ trade value is at an all-time low. Another All-Star campaign would boost his stock and put his postseason flameout in the rearview mirror. It is hard to fathom Simmons’ value getting worse, and he’s still a better player than Brogdon on a good day. This report establishes that Simmons will not be sold for pennies on the dollar, even if Malcolm Brogdon is an intriguing bit of coin.

Last season, despite Indiana’s struggles, many thought Brogdon deserved his first All-Star berth. The 28-year-old averaged 21.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists on 45.3 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from deep. He’s a very talented and capable player, and definitely the type of guard Philadelphia should look to receive in a prospective Ben Simmons deal.

There’s a chance Indiana throws more in the pot and a trade is completed further down the line. There is no reason to expect total silence from the Pacers moving forward. It’s customary to start low and work your way up — teams don’t start with their best offer.

In addition to the Pacers, there have been rumblings tying Simmons to both Minnesota and Golden State, with other teams — Portland chief among them — making far too much sense to ignore. The Simmons sweepstakes will only get more robust from here on out.

Of note here is the Damian Lillard situation. While it does not appear Lillard will ask for a trade now, the chances of his discontent boiling over are higher than ever. That may be cause for Morey to exercise patience with Simmons, who would be the only reasonable centerpiece of a hypothetical Lillard trade.