Sixers: 3 possible Ben Simmons trades with Rockets

Sixers: Possible Ben Simmons trade with Rockets No. 2

Sixers also receive: 2022 first-round pick (Houston), 2027 first-round pick (Brooklyn)

This is a somewhat radical proposal, and the Rockets are one of several teams who generally make more sense in a three-team context. Houston’s roster simply isn’t set up to offer Philadelphia the star it presently desires, unless Jalen Green becomes available in talks (he won’t).

That said, there is logic here — even if it’s not logic I’m convinced Philadelphia should follow. It’s a significant risk and a real “throw away the season” move, almost entirely centered on the possibility of retooling for a more serious championship run in the 2022-23 season. If the Sixers opt not to waste another year of Embiid’s prime (smart), then you can scratch this off the list.

If the Simmons situation continues to drag on, however, and the Sixers are unable to bolster his trade value, then things could get sticky for Morey and the front office. Simmons has no interest in playing for the Sixers long term, and the potential sabotage he could inflict upon the Philly locker room is worth noting. Simmons’ best bet is arguably, and ironically, to pull a James Harden and make life hell for the organization until the day he’s traded.

Let us say, for a moment, that is how it all plays out. Simmons sandbags hard, the Sixers stick up the arena, the wins aren’t coming frequently enough, and Philadelphia’s only real option is to get rid of Simmons. If we get to that point, and things start feeling like a lost season, then this trade makes more sense.

You get Christian Wood, a deliciously gifted offensive big who can pair with Joel Embiid in Tobias Harris’ absence. You also get John Wall’s massive and soon-to-be-expiring $44+ million contract. That’s a trade chip in the summer. Kevin Porter Jr. is a supercharged throw-in who can provide some desperately needed shot-making juice on the perimeter.

For the Sixers, this is a salary-dumping move. The Rockets get off Wall’s deal and acquire Simmons, for the price of taking on Harris’ remaining contract. Harris has probably played himself out of the “negative value” range of bad contracts, but he’s still ludicrously expensive for the next three seasons. The Sixers remove him and Simmons from the books, then have Wall’s expiring contract to toss around in the summer of 2022 and the opportunity to clear out max money, should another star come knocking in free agency or via trade.

Again, making a salary cap move at this stage of Embiid’s career is far-fetched and ultimately not great business. If the Simmons saga gets truly stinky, however, then it could make some degree of sense.