Sixers: Grading 3 potential Ben Simmons trades from Warriors

Sixers: Grading potential Ben Simmons to Warriors trade No. 1

This is probably the best starting point. Jonathan Kuminga is a deeply flawed prospect, but he’s Golden State’s prettiest trade chip and has true All-Star potential, should he put the pieces together. He’s also a supreme athlete with enough raw talent to contribute in a limited capacity next season.

My main hang-up here is Matisse Thybulle. This is just not enough value coming back Philadelphia’s direction to justify giving up another valuable asset on top of Simmons, who is more than worth a mid-lottery pick, another mid-to-late first-round pick, and Wiggins’ albatross contract. Plus, the Sixers will need Thybulle’s perimeter defense in lieu of Simmons.

If the Warriors had a better route to salary matching, these trades would be much easier to stomach for Philadelphia. Wiggins is a negative-value player on that contract, and next to Tobias Harris, would give the Sixers two max contracts that are exceedingly difficult to move in future trades. It becomes harder to trade for Damian Lillard if you’re building a package around Wiggins, who Portland has no interest in.

Should Golden State be Simmons’ next home, Philadelphia’s focus should be on acquiring as much young talent and draft capital as possible. Wiggins is not a player the Sixers should value much at all, even if his salary is a necessary conduit for making a trade work.

Grade: C+