A potential Ben Simmons trade between the Sixers and Hawks
Sixers also receive: 2022 first-round pick (ATL, top-10 protected)
Hawks also receive: 2024 first-round pick (CHA, top-10 protected)
The Hawks are basically a more advanced version of the Grizzlies — a lot of useful players up and down the roster, but not enough high-end talent to genuinely compete for a championship. The Hawks need a real 1B to Trae Young, and in Ben Simmons, they could very well find one.
This is a bit awkward given the circumstances of Simmons’ impending exit. He crumbled against Atlanta, which subsequently caused his fallout in Philadelphia. The Sixers might not want to send him to a conference rival, nor would Atlanta necessarily have overwhelming interest in a player they just embarrassed on national television.
All that said, this trade does — on paper — make each team better. Trae Young is an even better fit for Simmons than Ja Morant. He is a similarly electric playmaker, manipulating defenses with his air-tight handles and change-of-pace ability. Young is also a truly elite gravity shooter who can warp defenses and open up room for Ben Simmons to play downhill.
In Simmons, the Hawks get the NBA’s most versatile and impactful wing defender, along with another high-level playmaker to ease Young’s heavy creation burden. Clint Capela gets flipped for fit reasons, and John Collins steps into the five spot full-time, with the Hawks prioritizing speed and versatility on offense.
- Trae Young
- Bogdan Bogdanovic
- Miles Bridges
- Ben Simmons
- John Collins
- Danilo Gallinari
- Onyeka Okongwu
- Lou Williams
- Delon Wright
- Cam Reddish
- Gorgui Dieng
For the Sixers, De’Andre Hunter is an immediate replacement for Ben Simmons on the defensive end. He’s not quite as versatile — especially matching up against guards — but he’s a strong 6-foot-8 forward who can handle the NBA’s elite wing scorers. Hunter also took a big step forward offensively last season, averaging 15.0 points on 48.4 percent shooting.
Philadelphia also gets Kevin Heurter, a player Philly fans are no doubt aware of after he dropped 27 points on the Sixers in Game 7. Heurter is a starting-caliber player who made major strides as a defender and secondary playmaker last season. He’s an elite movement shooter, making him a clean fit next to Embiid, and his decision-making chops would help the halfcourt offense run smoothly.
The Sixers also get Jalen Johnson, the reigning No. 20 pick and a worthy long-term project. He’s a big, physical downhill driver at 6-foot-10, with springboard athleticism and real playmaking flare. He needs to iron out the 3-point shot, but he could be a situationally useful big as soon as his rookie season.
- Seth Curry
- Kevin Heurter
- De’Andre Hunter
- Tobias Harris
- Joel Embiid
- Matisse Thybulle
- Furkan Korkmaz
- Tyrese Maxey
- Georges Niang
- Andre Drummond
- Jalen Johnson
For the Hornets, it’s pretty straightforward — you jump in and obtain a sizable upgrade at center to help facilitate the deal. Clint Capela is one of the NBA’s elite rebounders and shot-blockers, and would fit right in as a vertical threat in Charlotte’s spaced-out offense. He would catch a fair amount of lobs from LaMelo Ball.
- LaMelo Ball
- Terry Rozier
- Gordon Hayward
- P.J. Washington
- Clint Capela
- Kelly Oubre Jr.
- Mason Plumlee
- Ish Smith
- James Bouknight
- Jalen McDaniels
- Kai Jones
All in all, the Hawks get a legitimate No. 2 star next to Trae Young, the Sixers balance out the roster, and Charlotte gets a real needle-mover in the frontcourt. There’s a lot to like here, even if the Sixers and Hawks would be naturally hesitant to trade with one another given the competitive landscape in the East right now.