Sixers rumors: Cons of trading Ben Simmons for Jerami Grant
Let’s face it — Ben Simmons is probably the best on-ball-defender on the planet. He came in second last year for Defensive Player of the Year behind Rudy Gobert. With Joel Embiid protecting the rim and Matisse Thybulle lurking on the perimeter, the defense led by Ben Simmons is what helped the 76ers have one of the top defensive teams last season. We’ve already seen a decline in steals and deflections with Simmons being out. Clearly, Jerami Grant is no Ben Simmons on defense.
Another issue with the trade is the logjam at power forward. Grant is more of a scoring power forward, the same as Tobias Harris. In a nutshell, they are the same player, except Harris is less athletic and a better shooter. Add to that, Georges Niang’s need for minutes and the emergence of Paul Reed off the bench with his energy and defense.
Additionally, Grant has seen a decline in his shooting percentages the last three seasons. Currently, his field goal percentage is hovering around 40 percent, and his 3-point percentage is at 30 percent. This would not help the Sixers with the spacing they need with Joel Embiid on the floor.
The last con to consider is losing a young, promising player if Detroit demands someone else in addition to Simmons. The Pistons may insist on a player like Isaiah Joe, Charles Bassey, or Paul Reed to sweeten the deal. We have seen the potential of these players on the court this year, and to part ways with them just to get Grant and picks would be a stretch.