The Sixers have to trade Ben Simmons. That trade will probably come sooner than later, no matter how tightly Daryl Morey holds to the hope of a mega-star return. Simmons’ trade request has been made official, and with that comes a ticking clock. He has threatened to hold out, and his trade value is unlikely to increase any time soon.
Several teams have been mentioned in the Simmons sweepstakes. He’s one of the best defenders in the NBA, and his facilitating skills would boost a lot of offenses. The threat of postseason implosion will scare some teams off, but most teams reported in the Simmons negotiations either aren’t playoff teams yet, or have the personnel necessary to mask Simmons’ shooting woes.
Take the Kings for example. A second round playoff exit would be a monumental accomplishment for them. The same can be said for Minnesota. Even if Simmons’ ceiling is capped as a lead playmaker, team context makes all the difference in this league. If he goes to Golden State and plays small-ball five next to Draymond Green, we could see some cool new wrinkles in his game — even without skill development!
All that is to say, some team will pay for Ben Simmons. Maybe not the price Daryl Morey wants — and maybe not the price Sixer fans want — but at some point, probably before training camp, a team will step up and trade for the Defense Player of the Year runner-up.
The Sixers have to execute a Ben Simmons trade sooner than later. Who are some fringe players worth targeting?
All the bases have been covered as far as potential cornerstones in a Simmons deal. Damian Lillard! CJ McCollum! Tyrese Haliburton! Dejounte Murray! Pascal Siakam! Malcolm Brogdon! Er, uh, Malik Beasley!
We’ve been all over the spectrum. That said, it’s likely a Simmons trade will have other moving parts. Teams will have to pool assets together to acquire the All-Star, especially if the eventual destination is a team like Minnesota, Sacramento, or San Antonio.
This article will focus on lesser-known players and potential throw-ins who Philadelphia should strive to include in a potential Simmons trade. Not as centerpieces of said trade, but as talent that could complement the main return and help round out the new-look roster.