15. New York Knicks
The New York Knicks could be one of the teams that could use Simmons’ playmaking and defense. The fit with him and Julius Randle would be clunky at best, but his size and defense would be too enticing for Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau to ignore.
The Knicks would probably be a team that would be a more enticing landing spot for Simmons if there was a third-team involved. However, in this article three-team trades are off the table, but that doesn’t mean a trade is impossible. Below is one possible trade the two clubs could make.
This trade is clearly a pick heavy package. Getting four first round picks is great for the Philadelphia 76ers. On top of that, they get a great two-way wing prospect in RJ Barrett. Evan Fournier is a solid scorer, but he’s more in there for salary filler. Alec Burks looked great as a sixth man in Philly during his previous stint with the franchise, so bringing him back makes sense.
Reed and Springer give the Knicks more youth on their roster, but they’re also defensive-oriented players that should fit the Knicks culture. Simmons can be the prime-time point guard for a big market team, so it should work out for both sides.