Fringe players Sixers should target in Ben Simmons trade: Jaden McDaniels
Jaden McDaniels turned more than a few heads last season, outperforming expectations and becoming an important part of Minnesota’s second unit. He ended up starting 27 games. Not many players on the Wolves’ roster outrank McDaniels in the long-term hierarchy. His blend of versatility and offensive upside are unique.
That said, McDaniels is still a bench player who doesn’t have the cachet of Malik Beasley, D’Angelo Russell, or other names mentioned in the Ben Simmons rumor mill. The Wolves really want Simmons — perhaps more than any other team — but it will require some creativity and an expansive package of future assets. McDaniels could be much more than a “throw-in.”
He is decidedly not Ben Simmons, but McDaniels is a 6-foot-9 wing who can contain guards at the point of attack, play active off-ball defense, and supply the occasional weak side block. He would go a long way toward filling Simmons’ void, whether as part of the second unit, or even as a starter.
On offense, McDaniels still has a ways to go. That said, a player with his size, fluidity, and shooting prowess is bound to succeed. McDaniels hit 36.7 percent of his 3s as a rookie and shot 44.7 percent from the field. He has the potential to pull-up over defenders at every level, and should get better at finishing inside as his frame fills out over time.
The Sixers need size and defense in Simmons’ absence. No player on this list can do what McDaniels does on the defensive end. There are benefits to getting more guards on the team, but Philly could only find so many minutes in the backcourt. If the Sixers build a Simmons trade package around a guard, then a player like McDaniels is the perfect example of who Morey should target as secondary acquisitions.