Sixers: 4 potential consolidation trades with Ben Simmons
A potential Ben Simmons trade between the Sixers and Warriors
Sixers also receive: 2022 first-round pick (GSW, unprotected), 2025 first-round pick swap, 2026 first-round pick (top-14 protected)
The Warriors consolidate draft capital and young talent to acquire a legitimate No. 3 star next to Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Golden State’s should have a singular focus on contending while Stephen Curry is still in his prime. Simmons gets them closer to a championship than Andrew Wiggins and youngsters.
Golden State would have to get creative with Simmons and Draymond Green, but the fit could work. A “small” frontcourt of Simmons and Green, with arguably the two greatest shooters ever to walk the earth and another wing (Otto Porter Jr., also a good shooter) would be suitable for contention in the Western Conference.
Again, Simmons’ next team should explore his capacity as an off-ball player. Simmons would benefit a ton from Green’s vast wisdom, not to mention the gravity of Curry and Thompson in the halfcourt. The Warriors could lean into Simmons as a small-ball center against mismatches, while also letting him kickstart Golden State’s elite transition offense.
The Warriors lose a rim protector, but Kevon Looney is still serviceable off the bench, and James Wiseman is a couple years away from giving Golden State what it initially hoped for out of the NBA Draft.
- Stephen Curry
- Klay Thompson
- Otto Porter Jr.
- Draymond Green
- Ben Simmons
- Andre Iguodala
- Kevon Looney
- Moses Moody
- Nemanja Bjelica
- Damion Lee
- Jordan Poole
For the Sixers, yeesh. Andrew Wiggins is not the ideal replacement for Simmons offensively, James Wiseman is of extremely limited use on this roster, and Jonathan Kuminga isn’t winning any playoff games next season. That said, this trade does leave the Sixers primed to spend extravagantly on the next star who demands a trade (hopefully, Damian Lillard).
For Portland, there’s not a ton of natural interest in Simmons if you’re trading Lillard. The goal is to rebuild. This way, the Sixers can build a package around young talent (Wiseman, Kuminga, Maxey, Thybulle) and draft picks. Philly would make this trade with plans to make more moves in the future, not to permanently integrate Wiggins, Wiseman, and Kuminga into the rotation.
- Tyrese Maxey
- Danny Green
- Andrew Wiggins
- Tobias Harris
- Joel Embiid
- Seth Curry
- Matisse Thybulle
- Shake Milton
- Jonathan Kuminga
- James Wiseman
- Furkan Korkmaz
The Warriors keep popping up in Simmons rumors, either as a team with interest or as a team Simmons wants to play for. It’s worth keeping an eye on them.