Sixers rumors: Why John Wall should be avoided at all costs

Is there a Rockets-Sixers Ben Simmons deal that does make sense?

The Sixers cannot, and almost definitely will not, trade Ben Simmons for John Wall.

So… is there a Simmons-Houston trade that does make sense if the Rockets truly have interest in the All-Star point guard?

Sixers also receive: 2022 first-round pick (HOU, top-3 protected), 2023 first-round pick (HOU, top-5 protected), 2025 first-round pick swap (HOU, top-5 protected), 2027 first-round pick swap (HOU, top-5 protected)

This has become a common theme in the Ben Simmons rumor mill. It might take three teams to find a deal that every side is happy with. For the Sixers, this is a much more preferable outcome than anything involving John Wall and his contract.

While the Sixers don’t get any real “star power,” Eric Gordon is a starter who averaged 17.8 points per game last season. He’s not a point guard, and he doesn’t fill Simmons’ playmaking void, but he can dribble and create off the bounce.

The Sixers also get James Wiseman and Jordon Poole from Golden State, two young prospects who can both contribute next season and grease the wheels on a future trade. Wiseman was the No. 2 pick, and has the kind of upside that teams wanting to rebuild cherish. If a star demands a trade, the team trading him is normally looking to rebuild (or at least retool).

Wiseman doesn’t really make long-term sense in Philadelphia, but he’s good enough to play strong backup minutes to Joel Embiid until a trade comes along. The Sixers would have the stray Embiid rest night to showcase Wiseman’s talent in its full glory, while Houston’s onslaught of draft capital can serve as the basis of any star trade. Eric Gordon’s contract ($18.2 million), along with Danny Green ($10 million), James Wiseman ($9.1 million), and Seth Curry ($8.2 million) makes salary-matching easy.

Jordan Poole is not the cornerstone of this trade, but unlike Wiseman, he would have a bright future in the Sixers’ rotation. He averaged 12.0 points in only 19.4 minutes per game last season, and has learned a lot from Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson since entering the league. He’s a dynamic perimeter shooter who’s never short on confidence. He would find instant rapport with Joel Embiid in the Sixers’ classic two-man actions.

This is the kind of trade Philadelphia should be after if they can’t get another All-Star back for Simmons. Good contracts, young talent, and draft capital can help them replace Simmons’ talent void further down the line. Meanwhile, Houston gets their guy and the Warriors get a marvelous offensive talent to pair with Draymond Green in the frontcourt.