As many of you may know, Ben Simmons has requested a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers recently and has not played a game yet in the NBA Season. His relationship with the 76ers has not been great to the point where they are finding him for each missed game and plan to continue fining him until he cooperates with team physicians on his mental health and fulfills other basketball-related obligations. For now let’s put on our General Manager hats on and help Daryl Morey find a suitable trade for Simmons. To do that would give him a suitable package for Simmons that would either help the 76ers now in the present or for their future.
With that being said, here are 5 different trades from 4 different teams that would give the 76ers a good return for Simmons. Here goes…
Trade #1 (With the Chicago Bulls)
76ers Receive: Patrick Williams, Coby White, Troy Brown Jr, Derrick Jones Jr, 2022 First Round Pick (Via Portland), 2024 First Round Pick, 2024 Second Round Pick, 2026 Second Round Pick
Bulls Receive: Ben Simmons
With this trade, the Chicago Bulls go all in on trying to win the championship. As of today the Bulls are 14-8 with the number three seed in the east. They already have a solid core of Demar Derozan, Zach Lavine, Lonzo Ball, Nikola Vucevic and Alex Caruso. Adding Simmons maybe the final piece they could use to make a push for a deep playoff run and possibly a NBA championship as well. Plus I’m sure Simmons would welcome a change of scenery as well. Also at 6’10, Simmons gives the Bulls flexibility and versatility on both ends of the floor. Sure the Bulls give up the likes of young prospects such as White and Williams (who’s injured at the moment, thus will miss the rest of the season). However Simmons is far better than both White and Williams, as Simmons is a better playmaker than White as well as a better defender than Williams.
As for the 76ers they get young prospects White and Williams, as well as Troy Brown Jr. Also they get Derrick Jones Jr, who could help the 76ers rotation and play right away. More importantly they get four future picks to help bolster their roster in the future.
Trade #2 (With the Houston Rockets)
76ers Receive: John Wall, 2023 First Round Pick (Via Milwaukee), 2025 First Round Pick (Via Brooklyn or Oklahoma City), 2027 First Round Pick (Via Brooklyn), and 2024 Second Round Pick (Via Golden State).
Rockets Receive: Ben Simmons, Tyrese Maxey
With this trade, the Houston Rockets get to finally trade away John Wall, however at the cost of three first round picks in 2023, 2025 and 2027. Fortunately it won’t cost them their own picks but other picks that they have obtained in older trades. Also they get to get a look at Ben Simmons and see if he fits their young core of Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr, Alperen Şengün and Ja’Sean Tate. Plus they also get a look at Tyrese Maxey and see if he can play for them as well.
As for the 76ers, they get a ton of picks for Simmons, plus they get a look at John Wall, who could be possibility be an upgrade over Maxey. On paper a Wall and Joel Embiid duo looks like a dangerous pick an roll threat on offense. If that does not work, At least they get three first round picks plus a second round pick for their troubles.
Trade #3 (With the Houston Rockets, Part 2)
76ers Receive: Daniel Theis, D.J.Augustin, Eric Gordon, 2023 First Round Pick (Via Milwaukee), 2025 First Round Pick (Via Brooklyn or Oklahoma City), 2027 First Round Pick (Via Brooklyn), and 2024 Second Round Pick (Via Golden State).
Rockets Receive: Ben Simmons,
With this trade, the Houston Rockets get rid of some veterans to take a chance on Ben Simmons, however at the cost of three first round picks in 2023, 2025 and 2027. As I previously mentioned it won’t be their original picks but other picks that they have obtained in older trades. Once again, they get a look at Ben Simmons and see if he fits their young core of Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr, Alperen Şengün and Ja’Sean Tate. This trade maybe easier to pull off because I doubt the 76ers would want John Wall in a trade and would rather keep Maxey, unlike in the first trade.
As for the 76ers, they get a ton of picks for Simmons, plus some veteran like Gordon, Augustin and Theis, who could all provide decent bench upgrades for their current roster and solidify their bench unit. In addition, they get three first round picks plus a second round pick for their troubles.
Trade #4 (With the Cleveland Cavaliers)
76ers Receive: Kevin Love, Issac Okoro, 2022 First Round Pick, 2024 First Round Pick, and 2022 Second Round Pick (Via Houston).
Cavs Receive: Ben Simmons
With this trade, the Cleveland Cavaliers take a chance on Simmons, Pairing him with Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Lauri Markkanen. Simmons is a interesting fit at Guard next to Garland in place of the injured Colin Sexton. Also you can play Simmons at the SF position instead of Markkanen for a more versatile defensive team. Plus you get off Love’s salary and giving up Okoro with a few picks. Not sure if Simmons would be a correct fit here but if would be interesting to see how it looks.
For the 76ers, they get Love to play with Tobias Harris and Embiid, Seth Curry and Danny Green. They can have love be the starter and move Harris to the SF as well as move Green to the SG and make Curry the PG (or keep Maxey in the lineup and have Love come off the bench). Love brings them floor spacing they can play with Embiid or have him back up Embiid as a backup Center. Also the 76ers will get a couple a picks and a young prospect (Okoro) for Simmons.
Trade #5 (With the San Antonio Spurs)
76ers Receive: Derrick White, Dejounte Murray, 2023 First Round Pick, 2025 First Round Pick (Via Chicago), and 2023 Second Round Pick (Via Indiana).
Spurs Receive: Ben Simmons, Jaden Springer
With this trade, The Spurs take a chance on Simmons to place with their young core of Keldon Johnson, Lonnie Walker, Devin Vassell, Josh Primo and Jakob Poeltl. Simmons could be the star that the Spurs have been lacking since Kawhi Leonard (No Offense to Demar Derozan). With his own team Simmons has the potential to be a better player than what he was in Philly. Also Simmons could be a potential upgrade in place of Murray for the Spurs, as I believe Simmons is the better player than Murray and has a bigger ceiling as a player than Murray has.
With the 76ers, this trade is strictly a trade for the future. Murray is a decent PG but not as good as Simmons. Still I do see Murray competing with Maxey for the starting PG position for the 76ers. As for Derrick White I’m not sure if he makes the rotation with the amount of wings that the 76ers play on their roster already. They do get at least two first round picks and a second round pick for their troubles.
BONUS TRADE — (With the San Antonio Spurs)
–Credit this trade idea to fellow writer Jonathan Ennis–
76ers Receive: Derrick White, Thaddeus Young, Josh Primo, 2023 First Round Pick, 2025 First Round Pick (Via Chicago), and 2023 Second Round Pick (Via Indiana).
Spurs Receive: Ben Simmons
With this trade, The Spurs take a chance on Simmons to place with their young core of Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, Lonnie Walker, Devin Vassell, and Jakob Poeltl. As previously mentioned, Simmons could be the star that the Spurs have been lacking since Kawhi Leonard (No Offense to Demar Derozan). With his own team Simmons has the potential to be a better player than what he was in Philly.
With the 76ers, this trade is strictly a trade for the future, as no players coming back from this deal having the ability to have an immediate impact on the current team. Thad Young, as good as a role player as he is, is probably a bench player at this point. As previously stated I’m not sure Derrick White makes the rotation, with the amount of wings that the 76ers play on their roster already. They do get at least two first round picks and a second round pick for their troubles.
Well there you have it, those are five trades (plus one bonus trade) for Ben Simmons. Hopefully the Simmons situation in Philadelphia has some kind of resolution soon. For now we can continue to make up trade scenarios until Simmons actually gets traded, being that he will not play any time soon.
Leon Collington
Born and Raised in the Greater NYC Area. Long time New York Knicks fan as well as a Huge NBA fan since 2006. You can follow him on twitter at @KyosotaComics.