Sixers: 4 potential consolidation trades with Ben Simmons

A potential Ben Simmons trade between the Sixers and Spurs

Sixers also receive: 2022 first-round pick swap, 2023 first-round pick (top-5 protected), 2025 first-round pick swap

Gregg Popovich is a not-so-secret fan of Ben Simmons, and the Spurs have been tied to the 6-foot-10 point guard before. San Antonio has accumulated a nice batch of guard and wing prospects, and flipping some of them to acquire a legitimate top-40 player is sensible for a team allergic to rebuilds.

Simmons is only 25 and has four years on his contract. The Spurs don’t get many players of that caliber in free agency, and it’s hard to say — with confidence — that Dejounte Murray is the foundational piece of a future contender. You can say that about Simmons.

The Spurs still keep Josh Primo, Keldon Johnson, and a useful collection of reserves to place around Simmons and Murray. All of whom can help space the floor, and all of whom fit the general Spursian ways of Popovich. Also, if any development program is going to get Ben Simmons to click, it’s San Antonio.

San Antonio would have the personnel to field a top-10 defense and maybe make some noise in the West, at least as a play-in team. Simmons is much better than he gets credit for, even with the clear limitations to his game. He’s a guy the Spurs would happily build around.

1. Dejounte Murray
2. Bryn Forbes
3. Keldon Johnson
4. Ben Simmons
5. Jakob Poeltl

• Doug McDermott
• Thaddeus Young
• Zach Collins
• Josh Primo
• Al-Farouq Aminu
• Tre Jones

For Philadelphia, this trade is — again — made with the future in mind. Young players and picks have value in future trade negotiations, be it Damian Lillard or another player who demands out. And, in the short term, both Devin Vassell and Lonnie Walker can play rotation minutes.

The big get, however, is Derrick White. He struggled with injuries last season, but when healthy, White is one of the NBA’s most underrated players. He’s an elite point of attack defender, and a mighty good offensive player when he’s attempting a high volume of 3s and playing with confidence.

For his career, White is right around the league average from 3-point range, hitting 35.7 percent of his attempts. He would help replicate Simmons’ on-ball defense against guards, while also providing a more natural fit offensively. White is locked up for four years, with roughly $60 million on his contract. That’s a fair price, and it ensures Philly’s main return doesn’t walk in free agency after a season or two.

1. Derrick White
2. Seth Curry
3. Danny Green
4. Tobias Harris
5. Joel Embiid

• Matisse Thybulle
• Tyrese Maxey
• Devin Vassell
• Georges Niang
• Andre Drummond
• Furkan Korkmaz

If Damian Lillard drags out his stay in Portland, then Philadelphia may ultimately have to move Simmons for lesser talent and draft capital. That could lead to a somewhat unexpected destination, with no clear frontrunner for Simmons’ services at the moment. The Spurs, Grizzlies, and Hawks are all outside-the-box landing spots that make sense on paper. The Warriors are heavily tied to Simmons and have reason to covet him.