Sixers: Grading 3 potential Ben Simmons trades from Warriors

Sixers: Grading potential Ben Simmons to Warriors trade No. 2

You will find plenty of people who are higher on Moses Moody than I am. That’s probably where I get hung up here. Moody was my No. 23 prospect on draft night, so I’m not sure he really swings the pendulum in a Simmons trade. I do, however, know Golden State strongly considered him at No. 7. If the Warriors value Moody similarly to Kuminga, then Philadelphia should push strongly for Kuminga, even if he’s less polished in the short term.

In the end, this trade is even less favorable than the last. I would take Tyrese Maxey over Moses Moody every day of the week. That just doesn’t feel like an upgrade to me. Some will disagree. Again, Moody was projected higher than 14th on draft night. He’s a beloved prospect for many. I’m just lower on him than the consensus.

In the end, Philadelphia should much prefer a situation in which James Wiseman and Tyrese Maxey are both Sixers, as opposed to Moody and a first-round pick. It would take Wiseman, Wiggins, Poole, and picks to get something done (in this writer’s opinion), but Wiseman is at least a valuable trade asset. Potentially more valuable than Moody, depending on the front office you’re dealing with. The Sixers’ goal should be to acquire as much future trade ammo as possible if the return doesn’t include a comparable star talent.

Even with his value in the basement and real concerns about his viability in a playoff series, Simmons is a top-40 NBA player and arguably the best defender in the NBA. He is a three-time All-Star with four years left on his contract at age 25. That is a supremely valuable trade chip, and the Sixers can’t settle for pennies on the dollar, even if an uncomfortable holdout is what it takes for the right deal to get done.

Grade: D+