With training camp only weeks away, the Ben Simmons trade market has reached an impasse. The Sixers have a high asking price, and thus far, no team has met it. Complicating matters even further is the Sixers’ blatant pining for Damian Lillard, who does not seem ready to demand a trade.
As the saga continues, we decided to cook up our own trade ideas. For this roundtable, each contributor was asked to pitch their best realistic Ben Simmons trade — with one big caveat. Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal, for the purposes of this exercise, are off the table.
Here’s what we came up with. Pitch your own trades in the comment section, and let us know what you think!
Ben Simmons trade roundtable: Sixers acquire Aaron Gordon
PROPOSED BY: JONATHAN GEIB
Sixers also receive: 2022 first-round pick (LAC, via OKC), 2024 first-round pick (OKC), 2024 second-round pick (OKC)
Nuggets also receive: 2026 first-round pick (OKC)
The Philadelphia 76ers and Ben Simmons are on the verge of a messy divorce and need to move on from each other prior to the 2021-22 NBA season. I propose a three-way trade between the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder. This trade, in theory, can benefit all parties involved. Let us start with the home team Sixers.
Philadelphia would be giving up Ben Simmons and their 2021 first-round draft pick, Jaden Springer. In return they would receive Monte Morris and Aaron Gordon from the Nuggets and two first-round draft picks (2022 and 2024) plus one second-round pick (2024) from the Thunder. This is the best of both worlds for Philly as they receive three picks to bolster the future roster, while adding two fringe starters in Morris and Gordon that can help a team that is ready to win now. Gordon is an uber-athletic scorer who can also provide length that is lost when Simmons departs, and Morris is a career 39 percent shooter with a team-friendly contract. The Sixers save around $8 million in cap space here too.
The Thunder would be moving three first-round picks (2022, 2024 and 2026) and Derrick Favors, which may seem like a lot to acquire Ben Simmons. However, pairing Simmons with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would provide the Thunder with an impressive backcourt of the future. Additionally, they have an incredible abundance of future draft picks, including eight firsts in just the next two drafts. They need to move some of these picks soon and this is the move to make for Sam Presti.
Lastly, the Denver Nuggets make some changes to a championship-caliber roster in a deep Western Conference. Leaving Denver would be Gordon and Morris and in return they would receive Derrick Favors, Jaden Springer, and the Thunder’s 2026 first-round pick. This move, while saving the Nuggets about $12 million, also clears up a logjam of talent on the roster so the Nuggets can develop some of their younger players. Favors gives the team a veteran, backup center behind Jokic and the departure of Gordon allows Michael Porter Jr. to get more shots and have more development opportunity to become the star player that he has the potential to be.