The Philadelphia 76ers have a long summer ahead, with many changes on the horizon. One such change is the seemingly inevitable departure of Ben Simmons. While no move is guaranteed — at least not in the short term — it’s hard to imagine the Sixers sticking with Simmons for another playoff run. His second-round collapse has left Daryl Morey between a rock and a hard place.
Obviously, the ideal outcome in the forthcoming Simmons sweepstakes is a Damian Lillard trade demand. If the Sixers can swap Simmons and pieces for Lillard, then the offense takes a giant-sized step in the right direction, and Joel Embiid no longer has to carry heaven and earth on a wobbly knee.
If Lillard does not materialize, however, the Sixers will need to look elsewhere for value. Simmons still has avid suitors, and a hypothetical trade will bring about a decent return for Philadelphia. The Sixers may not get a better player outright, but they can at least expect an All-Star caliber piece in return, with a cleaner fit and extra incentives interwoven.
The Pacers, Warriors, and Timberwolves have all been thrown around, with Portland firmly on the radar even if Lillard doesn’t ask out. That said, another team to watch is Oklahoma City. The Sixers should look to capitalize on any team’s folly if there’s potential for an upgrade. And, as luck would have, recent speculation has brought into question the future of 22-year-old stud Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in OKC.
Enter, Daryl Morey.
The Sixers should make a concerted effort to acquire Shai Gilgeous-Alexander if OKC desires a change.
Now, look — if OKC does trade Gilgeous-Alexander, it will be with an even more aggressive rebuild in mind. Gilgeous-Alexander is only 22 and he’s a tremendously gifted basketball player. Swapping him for the older Ben Simmons, who can also help the Thunder win basketball games at a pace unbecoming of Tankathon religiosity, would not exactly fit OKC’s timeline.
The Sixers would therefore need to get creative. A third team, perhaps. We have shared a great many three-team hypotheticals on this site, and a potential Gilgeous-Alexander trade would likely require such a maneuver. That is, unless OKC is willing to take two or three first-round picks straight up, in which case the Sixers should jump at the opportunity and take the top-40 player afforded to them.
Plainly speaking, a Gilgeous-Alexander trade would be borderline inexplicable from OKC’s perspective. But, if we’re to follow in the footsteps of ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, the Thunder may fall victim to too much patience in a rebuild.
In 35 games last season, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 23.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.9 assists on 50.8 percent shooting from the field and 41.8 percent from 3-point range.
Shai Gilgeous Alexander — Sixers trade framework #1
Mike O’Connor of The Rights to Ricky Sanchez posted a fascinating three-team concept that ended with Gilgeous-Alexander in Philadelphia, Anthony Edwards in OKC, and Ben Simmons in Minnesota. That would work splendidly for all sides involved if the Wolves prefer Simmons to Edwards, but count me skeptical on that front.
This is another three-team concept that makes some sense on paper. The Sixers get Gilgeous-Alexander, who is already a wickedly efficient three-level scorer and playmaker, along with the slightly maligned but still impactful Kemba Walker. A full backcourt makeover, with two guards who would complement Embiid nicely.
The Thunder get off the Walker contract for a slightly shorter and more palatable Andrew Wiggins contract. Wiggins will also contribute to fewer wins than Walker, and hey, if he shines in a featured role on a bad team, perhaps OKC can turn him into another first-round pick. Such is the game over there. OKC also gets a serviceable stopgap center in Kevon Looney, as well as three juicy picks.
For Golden State, the obvious appeal is pairing Ben Simmons with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Adding George Hill to the second unit is an added bonus. The fit between Simmons and Draymond Green is a curious one, but the Warriors could probably figure it out. If not, Simmons is a clear bridge to the future at Green’s position.
This would represent a massive win for Philadelphia, and leave them with enough assets to at least play at a Lillard deal should the Portland guard ask out. That said — sorry to burst some bubbles — but the Sixers are not guaranteed Lillard should he ask out, and other teams have better offers as is. I would consider Gilgeous-Alexander a comparable, if not superior asset to Ben Simmons. If the Sixers don’t have enough, you can sit comfortably with SGA and Walker in the backcourt.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — Sixers trade framework #2
If OKC wants to go the more traditional route and simply kick the can further down the road, this kind of trade could work out. Other teams would surely cast bids, and it may take more on the Sixers’ part — sorry to all my Matisse Thybulle folks, but… — but this basic framework provides enough intrigue to keep OKC on the phone.
The Thunder would get two young guards in Tyrese Maxey and Shake Milton, the first of whom flashed serious upside in the postseason. Maxey’s work ethic and willpower would fit hand-in-glove with OKC’s great development staff, and Shake Milton could use a change of scenery to relocate his scorer’s touch.
At least two unprotected picks would make any team perk up, and the Thunder are notoriously invested in the pick game. That 2027 pick is especially juicy, assuming it’s left unprotected. A lot can happen between now and 2027, and the Sixers’ best player has never been known for his durability.
Even so, this is a trade the Sixers would, ideally, say yes to in a heartbeat. Gilgeous-Alexander puts the right on the championship map again, especially if Ben Simmons can stick around. The Sixers would still have Simmons to offer up in other deals, and a juicy combination of Simmons and Gilgeous-Alexander should Portland come calling with Damian Lillard.
If this is how the dice fall, the Sixers would be extremely fortunate.