{"id":42329,"date":"2021-09-01T10:24:41","date_gmt":"2021-09-01T14:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=42329"},"modified":"2021-09-01T10:24:41","modified_gmt":"2021-09-01T14:24:41","slug":"ben-simmons-wants-out-of-philadelphia-two-realistic-trade-scenarios","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2021\/09\/01\/ben-simmons-wants-out-of-philadelphia-two-realistic-trade-scenarios\/","title":{"rendered":"Ben Simmons wants out of Philadelphia \u2013 Two realistic trade scenarios"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/simmobe01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Ben Simmons<\/strong><\/a> wants out of Philadelphia. According to a report from the Philadelphia Inquirer, the star guard met with members of the Sixers front office and expressed his desire to no longer be part of the team. As he awaits his fate, Simmons also does not intend to report to training camp. His relationship with the Sixers organization has become untenable.<\/p>\n<h2>Ben Simmons wants out of Philadelphia \u2013 Two realistic trade scenarios<\/h2>\n<h3>The Ben Simmons dilemma<\/h3>\n<p>The writing was on the wall when Philadelphia\u2019s season crashed and burned in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks. Simmons was benched during key stretches of the series because he was ineffective offensively in a half-court setting, and often even a liability.<\/p>\n<p>His free-throw shooting was consistently shaky, and he shied away from moments there for the taking. Simmons crucially passed up an open dunk in the closing stages of Game 7 in fear of being fouled. His confidence was shot, and the dilemma is, so is his trade value now.<\/p>\n<p>In the aftermath of Philadelphia\u2019s Game 7 meltdown, Simmons was, so to speak, thrown under the team bus by teammate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/e\/embiijo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Joel Embiid<\/strong><\/a> and head coach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/riverdo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Doc Rivers<\/a>. Asked after Game 7 if Simmons could be a point guard on a championship team, Rivers said, \u201cI don\u2019t know the answer to that right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Doc Rivers answers a question whether Ben Simmons can be the point guard of a championship team <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/8xL35u98RC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/8xL35u98RC<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WorldWideWob\/status\/1406809346957316096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 21, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>With Simmons making his intentions clear, the situation will grow increasingly more toxic as we edge towards training camp. Tensions are bubbling towards the surface and will soon reach a boiling point. In the meantime, here are two realistic Ben Simmons trade scenarios.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Portland Trailblazers<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The Trade: Ben Simmons for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mccolcj01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CJ McCollum<\/strong><\/a> and a 2022 first-round pick<\/p>\n<p>In a perfect world, Philadelphia replacing Ben Simmons with Portland superstar <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2021\/06\/29\/three-damian-lillard-trade-destinations\/\" target=\"_self\"><strong>Damian Lillard<\/strong><\/a> would be the dream scenario. However, in today\u2019s reality Simmons\u2019 stock is at an all-time low, and this trade is somewhat of a pipedream.<\/p>\n<p>A package built around Simmons is unlikely to be enough to entice the Trailblazers into handing over one of the league\u2019s most electrifying scorers. However, it may be enough to get the wheels turning on a potential trade for Lillard\u2019s running mate, CJ McCollum.<\/p>\n<p>[pickup_prop id=&#8221;8501&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>Though it has been fun to watch McCollum and Lillard share a backcourt. The combination of two offensive-minded, undersized guards has led to minimal playoff success for Portland. Perhaps a change of scenery is what\u2019s best for both parties. Adding Simmons would lead to massive improvement on the defensive end, an area in which Portland desperately needs to strengthen. Despite his flaws, Simmons is one of the league\u2019s best defensive players. Proving so this season with a runner-up finish for Defensive Player of the Year. Though, if the Sixers do pull the trigger on the McCollum trade, further moves of their own are needed to fill the defensive void left by Simmons.<\/p>\n<p>For the Sixers, McCollum is a much better offensive fit next to franchise big man Embiid. Whilst Simmons has no interest in shooting the ball, McCollum is a legitimate threat from the perimeter. The presence of McCollum will make defenses hesitant to double Embiid inside. This pairing has the potential to stretch defenses and provide a more cohesive balance to the Sixers&#8217; offense.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Golden State Warriors<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The Trade: Ben Simmons for\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wiggian01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andrew Wiggins<\/a><\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/moses-moody-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Moses Moody<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/poolejo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Jordan Poole<\/strong><\/a>, and a 2023 first-round pick swap<\/p>\n<p>Tuesday\u2019s report claimed that Simmons wants to go to three California teams. Quickly ruling out the Sacramento Kings, my apologies. Assuming the Clippers will be unwilling to part ways with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/georgpa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Paul George,<\/strong><\/a> and considering the Lakers&#8217; newly adopted over-30\u2019s policy, leaves the Golden State Warriors as Simmons\u2019 most likely Californian suitor.<\/p>\n<p>As demonstrated in his impressive rookie season, Simmons is at his best when surrounded by shooters. The space created allows Simmons to thrive at what he does best, running the open floor, making the correct reads, and slashing assertively to the rim. In Golden State, Simmons would be surrounded by two of the greatest shooters ever, with an abundance of space to exploit.<\/p>\n<h4>Can Simmons and Green co-exist?<\/h4>\n<p>One thing that may hold this trade scenario back is the idea of pairing Simmons with <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/greendr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Draymond Green<\/a><\/strong>, a player with shooting flaws of his own. However, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2021\/08\/03\/stephen-curry-signs-extension-with-the-golden-state-warriors\/\" target=\"_self\"><strong>Stephen Curry<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/thompkl01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Klay Thompson<\/strong><\/a> are the great equalizers, able to make up for the greatest of shooting deficiencies. The Warriors are also no strangers to playing line-ups with two or more non-shooters. Green and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/looneke01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Kevon Looney<\/strong><\/a> have regularly closed high leveraged playoff games together. A small ball line-up headlined by the versatility and switch-ability of Simmons and Green is a mouth-watering prospect defensively.<\/p>\n<p>In a deal that will see Simmons depart, Philadelphia may not see a return of Wiggins as overly attractive. However, Wiggins certainly spaces the floor better than Simmons, shooting 38% from deep last season. Also, arguably no other team has a better package of young talent to offer than the Warriors. In Moody, the Sixers would have another young piece, along with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/maxeyty01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Tyrese Maxey<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/halibty01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Tyrese Haliburton<\/strong><\/a>, who possesses buckets of potential on both sides of the floor. However, the Sixers may also demand the services of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/gleague\/players\/k\/kuminjo01d.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Jonathan Kuminga<\/strong><\/a> instead of Poole to make this deal work. Whilst the Warriors may be reluctant to do so, it shouldn\u2019t hold them back from making the trade happen.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo:<br \/>\n<a id=\"PzUKLzUMTftDuf3duFQ-zQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1194990443\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'PzUKLzUMTftDuf3duFQ-zQ',sig:'izokynAkdT5xr4A83ZUEUjGZQMKZgWMnZFS7yLdwtKo=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1194990443',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ben Simmons wants out of Philadelphia. According to a report from the Philadelphia Inquirer, the star guard met with members of the Sixers front office and expressed his desire to no longer be part of the team. As he awaits his fate, Simmons also does not intend to report to training camp. His relationship with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3908,"featured_media":42190,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1608,13],"tags":[212,1934,1909,4176,4774,4343],"class_list":["post-42329","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-basketball","category-76ers","tag-andrew-wiggins","tag-cj-mccollum","tag-jordan-poole","tag-moses-moody","tag-rumors","tag-sixers-featured"],"modified_by":"Carl Knauf, Department Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42329","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3908"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42329"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42329\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42329"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42329"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42329"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}