Sixers: 3 possible Ben Simmons trades with Pistons

Sixers: Possible Ben Simmons trade with Pistons No. 1

Sixers also receive: 2024 first-round pick (top-8 protected), 2026 first-round pick (top-3 protected)

The Pistons accomplish what is presumably the main goal of any Simmons trade — to pair him with Cade Cunningham as a pair of jumbo-sized playmakers to lead the next generation of Detroit basketball. Cunningham can relieve pressure from Simmons in the halfcourt, while Simmons can spark Detroit’s transition offense.

In return, the Sixers get Jerami Grant, a former Process favorite fresh off the best season of his career. In fact, had Detroit won more games last season, Grant might have made his first All-Star appearance. The Syracuse product averaged 22.3 points and 4.6 rebounds while maintaining his wide-ranging presence on the defensive end.

Efficiency dipped over the course of the season, and Grant was ultimately miscast as the No. 1 option, but he performed admirably as the Pistons’ most reliable source of offense. He can hit 3s, fill the lane out of pick-and-rolls, or get to his own spots facing up and attacking the lane. At 6-foot-9, Grant’s broad shoulders and excellent agility make him a dynamic face-up scorer — especially when matched up with slow-footed fours. His ability to replenish some of the defensive versatility lost with Simmons’ departure is another notable benefit.

The Sixers also get Killian Hayes, the No. 7 pick from 2020 and a worthwhile developmental project. He’s probably not the starting point guard on a contending team next season, but Hayes is a versatile 6-foot-5 defender and a gifted transition playmaker. If he can find the range from 3-point land and develop as a halfcourt decision-maker, he has real difference-making upside.

The Hamidou Diallo and Isaiah Joe swap essentially serves to balance out salaries and make this trade cap legal. Diallo averaged 11.6 points per game last season and is an explosive athlete on the wing, but it’s safe to say Joe’s 3-and-D skill set probably harbors more long-term value. The Sixers get a couple first-round picks to even the score, with Detroit obviously getting the best player by a significant margin in Simmons.