Sixers: 3 possible Ben Simmons trades with Rockets

The Sixers are prepared to enter the new NBA season with Ben Simmons on the roster — and maybe even in the lineup. While Simmons’ intentions remain unclear, there is no lack of clarity on Philadelphia’s end. If he agrees to suit up, then the Sixers will start Simmons and attempt to acclimate him to the organization once more.

In a recent report from Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, nine teams were listed as actively pursuing Simmons — with trade talks expected to heat up around December, when recently signed free agents are first eligible to be moved. One team on the list was Houston, a darkhorse that continues to pick up steam in the rumor mill.

Could the Rockets and Sixers actually end up being Ben Simmons trade partners?

The appeal is pretty simple. Simmons is a 25-year-old All-Star with four years on his contract. The Rockets are not exactly swimming in max-level free agents eager to join them. Simmons would also provide a defensive backbone for a presently unbalanced team. Houston has players who can score all over the floor, but the next step in a rebuild is defensive improvement.

That said, we are also less than a year removed from the Rockets turning down a Simmons-centered package in James Harden negotiations. While the optics of trading Harden to the recently resigned Morey no doubt played a role in Houston’s decision, the Rockets have taken picks over Simmons once before. Would they really cough up significant draft capital to acquire Simmons now?

If optics were the main concern in the Harden saga, then yes — the Rockets do make some sense on paper. Not many young players of Simmons’ caliber become so readily available. Morey has longstanding relationships with the Houston brass, and the Rockets do have a lot of draft picks from the Harden trade.