With Ben Simmons telling the Philadelphia 76ers that he is not mentally ready to play, trade rumors still circulate around the league. Simmons has racked up $2M in fines because of his absence in the preseason, but the Sixers are no longer fining him because of him focusing on getting “mentally ready” to step back on the court and because of personal reasons.
The Sixers chose to slow-play the trade process, under the belief that, first, the relationship between them and Simmons is salvageable, and second, that there is no trade that improves the roster as of now, or, at the very least, keeps them as a contender in the Eastern Conference.
But what happens if the situation remains the same? Or if the Sixers are a .500 team early in December? Would the Sixers want to take the best deal available or wait until December 15th, when trade restrictions are lifted on most of the free agents signed this past offseason?
Let’s take a look at some trade options.
1: Portland Trail Blazers
When you remove Damian Lillard from any trade discussions, that leaves CJ McCollum as the player the Trail Blazers are looking to trade. Lillard himself is unwilling to leave Portland when new head coach Chauncey Billups convinced him that Portland is where he wanted to be.
McCollum is coming off six straight seasons of scoring at least 20 points per game and is under contract through the 2024 season. Lillard asked for upgrades on the roster, but you have to ask if Simmons is truly the right one for the team at the cost of Lillard’s longtime backcourt partner.
First Round Assets and Trade Exceptions
The Trail Blazers sent a top-14 protected 1st round pick from 2022 to 2028 to the Chicago Bulls in the trade where the Blazers acquired Larry Nance Jr.—because this pick has seven years of protection, the Blazers are not allowed to trade a 1st round pick unless the protection is lifted.
Trade exception: $1.8M
Cannot be Traded
Norman Powell (January 15 signing restriction)
Cody Zeller (December 15 signing restriction)
Tony Snell (December 15 signing restriction)
Ben McLemore (December 15 signing restriction)
Dennis Smith Jr. (December 15 signing restriction)
Tradable Contracts
(UNLIKELY) Damian Lillard: $39.3M, player option for 2024-25
CJ McCollum: $30.8M, UFA in 2024
Robert Covington: $13.0M, UFA in 2022
Jusuf Nurkic: $12.0M, UFA in 2022
Larry Nance Jr.: $10.7M, UFA in 2023
Anfernee Simons: $3.9M, RFA in 2022
Nassir Little: $2.3M, RFA in 2023
CJ Elleby: $1.5M, RFA in 2022
Greg Brown III: $925k, RFA in 2023, non-guaranteed for 2023-24
Trade 1: Simmons Pairs Up with Lillard
Trail Blazers receive: Ben Simmons
76ers receive: CJ McCollum, Nassir Little, 2022 1st round pick (lottery protected)
While Lillard is the player Daryl Morey wants if the Sixers send Simmons to Portland, Morey is going to have to stop pretending that Simmons is valued as a superstar in his prime and not an All-Star with flaws.
McCollum was never an All-Star, but he is realistically the best player the Sixers can get in return for Simmons as of now. He has averaged 21.8 points and 3.8 assists in six seasons since he became a full-time starter, and with his skillset, he should thrive playing off of Joel Embiid with the Sixers. He also averaged 22.8 points per game during the playoffs in that span, and has proven himself willing to make a clutch shot.
Nassir Little is a late 1st round pick two years ago and is a talented developmental project on a rookie deal.
The Trail Blazers are between a rock and a hard place when needing to upgrade the roster to keep Lillard content in staying in Portland, with the risk of a big move still not enough to stop Lillard from wanting out. It’s a harsh reality that the Rockets had with James Harden, when they forced them into a full-on rebuild after the partnership between him and Russell Westbrook fell apart quickly.
Dealing for Simmons without giving up lots of draft capital would allow the Trail Blazers to hedge their bet.
What the Trail Blazers can do is that they can shift Simmons to the power forward position, similar to what the Sixers did during the 2020 NBA Bubble. That way, Simmons can be the Draymond Green to Lillard’s Stephen Curry. Just imagine the duo running pick-and-rolls 30+ feet from the hoop, with Lillard’s ridiculous shooting range often putting Simmons in a position to catch the ball downhill and attack other defenses with a 4-on-3 advantage.
Simmons can guard any position, which gives the Blazers a chance to fix their defense.
If the Blazers can’t contend, but they keep Lillard, trading for Simmons would be a piece for their rebuild.
Trail Blazers Lines
STARTING FIVE: Jusuf Nurkic (C), Ben Simmons (PF), Robert Covington (SF), Norman Powell (SG), Damian Lillard (PG)
BENCH: Anfernee Simons (SG), Larry Nance Jr. (PF), Cody Zeller (C), Tony Snell (SF), Ben McLemore (SG), Dennis Smith Jr. (PG), CJ Elleby (SG), Greg Brown III (PF), Trendon Watford (PF), Keljin Blevins (SF)
76ers Lines
STARTING FIVE: Joel Embiid (C), Tobias Harris (PF), Danny Green (SF), CJ McCollum (SG), Seth Curry (PG)
BENCH: Shake Milton (SG), Matisse Thybulle (SF), Furkan Korkmaz (SG), Tyrese Maxey (PG), Nassir Little (SG), Andre Drummond (C), Georges Niang (PF), Paul Reed (PF), Isaiah Joe (SG), Charles Bassey (C)
Trade 2: The Superstar Swap
Trail Blazers receive: Ben Simmons, Tyrese Maxey, 2022 1st round pick, 2024 1st round pick
76ers receive: Damian Lillard
If Lillard really does want out, Morey and Doc Rivers would want to maximize the Sixers’ championship window with Embiid. So, say that they trade away Simmons for Lillard. This is the deal they need to make.
There are a lot of other trades that they can get All-Star caliber players in return, but if they truly want to contend for a championship, they’re going to have to get a top 10 player to pair with Embiid. This would make them one of the more dangerous teams with two legitimate MVP candidates on the team. It would make them a perennial top 3 team in the Eastern Conference. Plus, if Lillard has the ball in the clutch, you know what he is going to do.
The Blazers may not be that high on the idea of parting with Lillard, but if they decide to pull the trigger, they would get Simmons surrounding with a solid supporting cast that includes McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic. Simmons can distribute the ball well and definitely improves a terrible Blazers defense that ranked 29th in the league last season.
Tyrese Maxey is a young player with a high upside who got some experience starting in place when the Sixers had a COVID outbreak last season, and even got more experience during the playoffs. Plus, the Blazers are adding two 1st round picks to help boost the roster either in the Draft or by another trade.
Trail Blazers Lines
STARTING FIVE: Jusuf Nurkic (C), Ben Simmons (PF), Robert Covington (SF), CJ McCollum (SG), Tyrese Maxey (PG)
BENCH: Norman Powell (SG), Anfernee Simons (SG), Larry Nance Jr. (PF), Cody Zeller (C), Tony Snell (SF), Ben McLemore (SG), Dennis Smith Jr. (PG), CJ Elleby (SG), Greg Brown III (PF), Trendon Watford (PF)
76ers Lines
STARTING FIVE: Joel Embiid (C), Tobias Harris (PF), Danny Green (SF), Seth Curry (SG), Damian Lillard (PG)
BENCH: Shake Milton (SG), Matisse Thybulle (SF), Furkan Korkmaz (SG), Andre Drummond (C), Georges Niang (PF), Paul Reed (PF), Isaiah Joe (SG), Charles Bassey (C), Jaden Springer (SG), Grant Riller (PG)
2: Minnesota Timberwolves
It’s not known if the Timberwolves have the guys to get a Simmons trade, unless if they have a third team involved or if said 3rd team believes that D’Angelo Russell can still be an impact player. Because the Wolves’ roster has a collection of rotational players, any Simmons trade would require to have the Timberwolves to move at least two 1st round picks, and it’s incredibly risky considering they made just one playoff appearance since Kevin Garnett’s MVP season in 2004.
First Round Assets and Trade Exceptions
The Timberwolves have all their 1st round picks
Trade exception: $4.8M
Cannot be Traded
Jarred Vanderbilt (January 15 signing restriction)
Jordan McLaughlin (January 15 signing restriction)
Off the table: Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards
Tradable Contracts
D’Angelo Russell: $30.0M, UFA in 2023
Malik Beasley: $14.5M, team option for 2023-24
Patrick Beverley: $14.3M, UFA in 2022
Taurean Prince: $13M, UFA in 2022
Josh Okogie: $4.1M, RFA in 2022
Jake Layman: $3.9M, UFA in 2022
Leandro Bolmaro: $2.4M, RFA in 2025
Jaden McDaniels: $2.1M, RFA in 2024
Jaylen Nowell: $1.8M, team option for 2022-23, non-guaranteed for 2021-22
Naz Reid: $1.8M, team option for 2022-23
A Big Three of 1st Overall Picks
Timberwolves receive: Ben Simmons
76ers receive: D’Angelo Russell, 2022 1st round pick (top 3 protected), 2024 1st round pick (top 5 protected)
While Morey was not hoping for a trade like this, this can arguably be the best possible trade package the Sixers will receive.
This checks off all the boxes at what the Sixers are wanting to get. They receive an All-Star caliber point guard in Russell and two potential lottery picks.
Even though Russell missed 49 games in the last two seasons with various injuries, he still averaged 20 points and 6 assists per game. His contract runs through the 2023 season. Even with Simmons no longer on the roster, the Sixers would still remain one of the favorites for the East.
It’s a swing-for-the-fence kind of trade for the Timberwolves considering the package, but do note that Simmons is under contract for the next four seasons. If Simmons becomes a free agent, don’t expect him to have the Timberwolves on the list of teams he would be willing to sign with, but the group of him, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Anthony Edwards are all former 1st overall picks that can make an impact on the franchise.
Timberwolves Lines
STARTING FIVE: Karl-Anthony Towns (C), Jaden McDaniels (PF), Josh Okogie (SF), Anthony Edwards (SG), Ben Simmons (PG)
BENCH: Malik Beasley (SG), Patrick Beverley (PG), Taurean Prince (PF), Jarred Vanderbilt (PF), Jordan McLaughlin (PG), Naz Reid (C), Jake Layman (SF), Leandro Bolmaro (SG), Jaylen Nowell (SG), Nathan Knight (PF)
76ers Lines
STARTING FIVE: Joel Embiid (C), Tobias Harris (PF), Danny Green (SF), Seth Curry (SG), D’Angelo Russell (PG)
BENCH: Shake Milton (SG), Matisse Thybulle (SF), Furkan Korkmaz (SG), Tyrese Maxey (PG), Andre Drummond (C), Georges Niang (PF), Paul Reed (PF), Isaiah Joe (SG), Charles Bassey (C), Jaden Springer (SG)
3: Cleveland Cavaliers
First Round Assets and Trade Exceptions
The Cavaliers have all their 1st round picks
Trade exceptions: $4.2M and $1.7M
Cannot be Traded
Jarrett Allen (January 15 signing restriction)
Denzel Valentine (December 19 signing restriction)
Lauri Markkanen (December 15 signing restriction)
Kevin Pangos (December 15 signing restriction)
Ed Davis (Signing restriction)
Tradable Contracts
Kevin Love: $31.3M, UFA in 2023
Ricky Rubio: $17.8M, UFA in 2022
Cedi Osman: $8.1M, UFA in 2024, non-guaranteed for 2023-24
Evan Mobley: $8.1M, RFA in 2025
Darius Garland, $7.0M, RFA in 2023
Isaac Okoro: $6.7M, RFA in 2024
Collin Sexton: $6.3M, RFA in 2022
Dylan Windler: $2.3M, RFA i n2023
Dean Wade: $1.8M, UFA in 2023, non-guaranteed for 2021-22, team option for 2022-23
Lamar Stevens: $1.5M, team option for 2022-23, non-guaranteed for 2021-22 and 2022-23
Simmons and Sexton Get Fresh Start
Cavaliers receive: Ben Simmons
76ers receive: Collin Sexton, Kevin Love, 2022 1st round pick (top 5 protected)
There have been trade rumors around Collin Sexton after he and the Cavaliers failed to come to a contract extension by last Monday’s 6 PM deadline. Sexton is one of the top under-25 players and is coming off a career year where he averaged 24.3 points per game. But he is an RFA this offseason, and the Sixers would need to commit to a high-price deal.
Throwing in Kevin Love in here would get the Sixers to take on a dead-weight contract, as Love is clearly past the All-Star player he once was, and the Sixers can later trade Love by the time they sign Sexton to an extension.
But would the Cavs be willing to give up a lotter-protected 1st round pick in a deep East? Simmons can be an upgrade to the Cavs’ roster, but can he push them to compete for a play-in spot? With Simmons on the starting lineup, the Cavs form a tall-tower lineup where everyone except for Darius Garland is 6’ 10” or taller.
Cavaliers Lines
STARTING FIVE: Jarrett Allen (C), Evan Mobley (PF), Ben Simmons (SF), Lauri Markkanen (SG), Darius Garland (PG)
BENCH: Isaac Okoro (SF), Cedi Osman (SF), Ricky Rubio (PG), Dylan Windler (SF), Denzel Valentine (SG), Dean Wade (PF), Ed Davis (C), Lamar Stevens (PF), Kevin Pangos (PG), Tacko Fall (C)
76ers Lines
STARTING FIVE: Joel Embiid (C), Tobias Harris (PF), Danny Green (SF), Collin Sexton (SG), Seth Curry (PG)
BENCH: Shake Milton (SG), Matisse Thybulle (SF), Furkan Korkmaz (SG), Tyrese Maxey (PG), Kevin Love (PF), Andre Drummond (C), Georges Niang (PF), Paul Reed (PF), Isaiah Joe (SG), Charles Bassey (C)
4: Toronto Raptors
First Round Assets and Trade Exceptions
The Raptors have all their 1st round picks
Trade exception: $4.8M
Cannot be Traded
Gary Trent Jr. (January 15 signing extension)
Khem Birch (December 15 signing extension)
Isaac Bonga (December 15 signing extension)
Svi Mykhailiuk (December 15 signing extension)
Sam Dekker (December 15 signing extension)
Tradable Contracts
Pascal Siakam: $33.0M, UFA in 2024
Fred VanVleet: $19.7M, player option for 2023-24
Goran Dragic: $19.4M, UFA in 2022
OG Anunoby: $16.1M, player option for 2024-25
Scottie Barnes: $7.3M, RFA in 2025
Chris Boucher: $7.2M, UFA in 2022
Precious Achiuwa: $2.7M, RFA in 2024
Malachi Flynn: $2.0M, RFA in 2024
Yuta Watanabe: $1.5M, RFA in 2022, $375k guaranteed for 2021-22
Dalano Banton: $925k, RFA in 2023, non-guaranteed for 2022-23
Sixers Emphasize the Frontcourt
Raptors receive: Ben Simmons
76ers receive: Pascal Siakam, Malachi Flynn, 2022 1st round pick
Pascal Siakam would be the top target from here, but does a frontcourt of Embiid, Tobias Harris, and Siakam, who shot 29.7% from three last season, address all the concerns of the spacing? If not, a third team would be included here.
Raptors Lines
STARTING FIVE: Khem Birch (C), Ben Simmons (PF), OG Anunoby (SF), Gary Trent Jr. (SG), Fred VanVleet (PG)
BENCH: Khem Birch (C), Chris Boucher (PF), Goran Dragic (PG), Scottie Barnes (SF), Yuta Watanabe (SF), Svi Mykhailiuk (SF), Isaac Bonga (SG), Sam Dekker (SF), Dalano Banton (PG), Justin Champagnie (SF)
76ers Lines
STARTING FIVE: Joel Embiid (C), Pascal Siakam (PF), Tobias Harris (SF), Danny Green (SG), Seth Curry (PG)
BENCH: Shake Milton (SG), Matisse Thybulle (SF), Furkan Korkmaz (SG), Tyrese Maxey (PG), Andre Drummond (C), Georges Niang (PF), Malachi Flynn (PG), Paul Reed (PF), Isaiah Joe (SG), Charles Bassey (C)
5: Indiana Pacers
First Round Assets and Trade Exceptions
The Pacers have all their 1st round picks
Trade exceptions: $7.3M, $4.8M, $4.0M, $2.9M
Cannot be Traded
Malcolm Brogdon (April 18 signing restriction)
TJ McConnell (January 15 signing restriction)
Torrey Craig (January 15 signing restriction)
Brad Wanamaker (Signing restriction)
Tradable Contracts
Domantas Sabonis: $19.8M, UFA in 2024
Myles Turner: $18M, UFA in 2023
Caris LeVert: $17.5M, UFA in 2023
TJ Warren: $12.9M, UFA in 2022
Jeremy Lamb: $10.5M, UFA in 2022
Justin Holiday: $6.0M, UFA in 2023
Chris Duarte: $3.7M, RFA in 2025
Goga Bitadze: $3.1M, RFA in 2023
Isaiah Jackson: $2.4M, RFA in 2025
Kelan Martin: $1.7M, RFA in 2022
Oshae Brissett: $1.7M, team option for 2022-23, non-guaranteed for 2021-22
The Turner/Sabonis Pairing Gets Broken Up
Pacers receive: Ben Simmons
76ers receive: Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, 2022 1st round pick
It’s hard to see the Pacers making a trade for Simmons, especially after Malcolm Brogdon signed a contract extension restricting him from being traded. But the Pacers have six players making between $10M and $22M, including Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner. If the Pacers can’t contend this year, expect either one of Sabonis or Turner to be moved. But because Embiid has solidified himself as the Sixers’ starter at the 5, that Tobias Harris can start at either the 3 or 4, Danny Green can start at either the 2 or 3, and Seth Curry can start at either the 1 or 2, trading for Sabonis can make more sense here.
Pacers Lines
STARTING FIVE: Myles Turner (C), Ben Simmons (PF), TJ Warren (SF), Caris LeVert (SG), Malcolm Brogdon (PG)
BENCH: TJ McConnell (PG), Justin Holiday (SG), Chris Duarte (SG), Oshae Brissett (SF), Torrey Craig (SF), Goga Bitadze (C), Brad Wanamaker (PG), Kelan Martin (SF), Isaiah Jackson (PF), DeJon Jarreau (SF)
76ers Lines
STARTING FIVE: Joel Embiid (C), Domantas Sabonis (PF), Tobias Harris (SF), Danny Green (SG), Seth Curry (PG)
BENCH: Shake Milton (SG), Matisse Thybulle (SF), Furkan Korkmaz (SG), Tyrese Maxey (PG), Jeremy Lamb (SG), Andre Drummond (C), Georges Niang (PF), Paul Reed (PF), Isaiah Joe (SG), Charles Bassey (C)
6: San Antonio Spurs
First Round Assets and Trade Exceptions
The Spurs have all their 1st round picks and also have the rights to the Chicago Bulls’ 1st round pick from either 2025 or 2026
Cannot be Traded
Doug McDermott (December 15 signing restriction)
Bryn Forbes (December 15 signing restriction)
Zach Collins (December 15 signing restriction)
Jock Landale (December 15 signing restriction)
Tradable Contracts
Dejounte Murray: $15.4M, UFA in 2024
Derrick White: $15.2M, UFA in 2025
Thaddeus Young: $14.2M, UFA in 2022
Jakob Poeltl: $8.8M, UFA in 2023
Lonnie Walker IV: $4.5M, RFA in 2022
Devin Vassell: $4.2M, RFA in 2024
Josh Primo: $3.9M, RFA in 2025
Keldon Johnson: $2.1M, RFA in 2023
Drew Eubanks: $1.8M, UFA in 2023, non-guaranteed for 2022-23
Tre Jones: $1.5M, RFA in 2023, non-guaranteed for 2022-23
Spurs Pull Off Their First In-Season Trade in 9 Years
Spurs receive: Ben Simmons
76ers receive: Derrick White, Thaddeus Young, 2022 1st round pick (lottery protected)
Out of all the teams in here, the Spurs are the biggest wild card. They have a combination of young players on team-friendly contracts in Dejounte Murray and Derrick White, a veteran in Thaddeus Young who can have an impact on a playoff roster and all their 1st round picks, including a future pick from the Chicago Bulls.
If they want to get in the trade talks, they’re going to have to do something they rarely do: Make an in-season trade. If done so, this would be the first time they make an in-season trade since 2012, when they shipped Richard Jefferson and TJ Ford to the Warriors for Stephen Jackson.
Spurs Lines
STARTING FIVE: Jakob Poeltl (C), Ben Simmons (PF), Keldon Johnson (SF), Devin Vassell (SG), Dejounte Murray (PG)
BENCH: Lonnie Walker IV (SG), Doug McDermott (SF), Bryn Forbes (SG), Drew Eubanks (PF), Keita Bates-Diop (SF), Zach Collins (PF), Tre Jones (PG), Josh Primo (SG), Jock Landale (C), Joe Wieskamp (SF)
76ers Lines
STARTING FIVE: Joel Embiid (C), Tobias Harris (PF), Danny Green (SF), Seth Curry (SG), Derrick White (PG)
BENCH: Shake Milton (SG), Matisse Thybulle (SF), Furkan Korkmaz (SG), Tyrese Maxey (PG), Thaddeus Young (SF), Andre Drummond (C), Georges Niang (PF), Paul Reed (PF), Isaiah Joe (SG), Charles Bassey (C)
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