The Philadelphia 76ers were missing All-Star point-forward Ben Simmons for the first-round sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics. It appears to be the end of the line for head coach Brett Brown. Despite having a ton of talent, the 76ers roster makeup is not ideal. They lack shooting in a major way.
Simmons and Joel Embiid appear to be a bad fit. Simmons needs room to operate thanks to his lack of a jumpshot and while Embiid is able to step out and shoot the three at a high level, he operates best on the low block.
Unfortunately for 76ers’ fans, the best course of action for the franchise may be to move Simmons for a king’s ransom.
Best Trade Ideas for Ben Simmons
Best Trade Fit – Golden State Warriors
What a spot the Golden State Warriors find themselves in after a miserable year thanks to injuries. Stephen Curry missed the majority of the season after breaking his hand and Klay Thompson missed the entirety of the season after tearing his ACL in the 2019 NBA Finals.
Although it was a lost season during their best players’ prime years, the Warriors find themselves in incredible shape after landing the number two pick in the NBA Draft Lottery.
The Warriors also have a still, surprisingly, valuable trade chip in Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins hasn’t lived up to his lofty contract extension but he is still young and is a proven scorer.
Simmons’ contract is a tricky one to trade as it falls under the NBA’s Poison Pill category. Meaning, he is in the last year of his rookie deal with an already signed extension that takes effect next season. For the 76ers he will only count at around $8.3 million in outgoing salary, but for which incoming team he will count at around $42 million in incoming salary.
A Complicated Three-Team Trade
Philadelphia 76ers Receive – Andrew Wiggins, Eric Paschal, Dewayne Dedmon, Golden State Warriors 2020 First-Round Pick, Minnesota Timberwolves 2021 First-Round Pick (via Golden State Warriors)
Golden State Warriors Receive – Ben Simmons
Atlanta Hawks Receive – Al Horford
Admittedly, there is a lot going on here. For the 76ers, they get a high ceiling, proven scorer, and Embiid’s former teammate in Wiggins. They also add Eric Paschall who had some splendid scoring displays for the Warriors this past season. Atlanta Hawks big man Dewayne Dedmon is a throw in to make this deal happen. He is solid defensively and has extended his range, he’ll be a cheaper option to Al Horford to backup Embiid.
The two first-round picks are the real prize for Philadelphia however. Especially this year’s, knowing it is falling second in the draft. Ideally for the 76ers, they would be able to add LaMelo Ball as a distributor and someone who can knock in perimeter jump shots while still maintaining the excellent size they had with Simmons running the point.
For the Warriors, the Simmons’ fit is interesting. They can use him as a primary ball-handler and allow Curry and Thompson to operate off of the basketball, coming off of screens, making them even more difficult to defend.
It also opens up the floor for Simmons to showcase his penetrating and finishing skills. A luxury he doesn’t have in Philadelphia with the lack of floor spacing.
For the Hawks, they add more salary to their books but they bring back one the all-time fan-favorites for the franchise in Horford. He is a veteran piece that still provides solid production on a young team looking to take advantage of their young stars in Trae Young, John Collins, Cam Reddish, and De’Andre Hunter. Horford can help elevate them back into the playoffs.
Phoenix Suns go All-In
Philadelphia 76ers Receive – Kelly Oubre Jr., Cameron Johnson, 2020 First-Round Pick, 2022 First-Round Pick
Phoenix Suns Receive – Ben Simmons, Mike Scott
This deal could very well be a bad move for Simmons. Opposed to being paired up with Embiid, he is a part of a triumvirate with budding superstar Devin Booker and Embiid clone Deandre Ayton.
For the Phoenix Suns, however, this is a risk they are willing to take. They lose Kelly Oubre Jr., who has become a very good player on the wing and Cameron Johnson, who provides excellent shooting. However, they add a proven All-Star in Simmons. They also receive Mike Scott. Scott is a throw in to make salaries work. However, he also can provide a solid scoring punch off of the bench.
The 76ers get back two excellent wing players who are both excellent shooters, especially Johnson. They also add the number 10 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, which they could package with their own pick (21st) to move up to select a point guard.
Oubre Jr. can be a solid number two or number three option to Embiid with Tobias Harris also providing scoring punch in those roles.
Cleveland Cavaliers Make a Playoff Push
Philadelphia 76ers Receive – Darius Garland, Kevin Porter Jr., 2020 First-Round Pick, 2022 First-Round Pick (via Milwaukee Bucks)
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive – Ben Simmons
The idea of Ben Simmons to the Cleveland Cavaliers was first floated by Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor. Cleveland believes they have the assets between young players and first-round picks to entice the 76ers.
For Cleveland, it’s a no-brainer. They add star-power on a team desperate for it. The only stars the Cavaliers have seen over the last two decades are the now-departed LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
Simmons would be the man in Cleveland and Kevin Love would be in line for a renaissance year as a spot-up shooter again. Simmons paired with a floor stretching big that has the ability of Love from the perimeter is a match made in heaven.
For the 76ers, they may ask for more, especially in future draft picks. Darius Garland struggled as a rookie but a lot of that could be attributed to the poor backcourt match with him and Collin Sexton.
Kevin Porter Jr. is a player the Cavs will try their darndest to hang on to but he will likely be a requirement to get this deal done. He showed flashes of All-Star ability at times last season and his ceiling is incredibly high.
Philadelphia would add two excellent shooters in Garland and Porter Jr. as well as the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, that could be enticing to their front office for sure.
DISCLAIMER – All trades will be assumed executed after the 10/17 contract expiration deadline for salaries to work.
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