Trade Suggestion: Fox for Simmons + #28
- Thread starter kb02
- Start date
Kings are amongst a handful of teams that are “known suitors”:
https://marcstein.substack.com/p/finals-tomorrow-trade-talk-today
https://marcstein.substack.com/p/finals-tomorrow-trade-talk-today
Of course that's what Philly wants. They have to open talks with other teams from something that resembles a position of strength, especially given the well-publicized notoriety of Simmons' flaws and the increasingly unlikely notion that an Embiid/Simmons pairing can reach the Finals. I will be curious to see if they manage to get what they're looking for in a trade, however. Star-for-star swaps are so rare in the modern NBA, and when it happens, it's usually past-their-primes like the Chris Paul for Russell Westbrook deal.
Looking around the league, though, I just don't see a lot of teams that are likely to trade away an established all-star or even an all-star caliber player for Ben Simmons right now. Someone could surprise me, of course. That's usually how it happens. But my guess is that there are a lot of teams that would want Simmons for the right price, but not many that consider the right price to be an all-star caliber player. I could see a couple of "hollow stats" all-stars being up for grabs. Minnesota doesn't think twice about trading Russell. New Orleans probably wouldn't bat an eye at offering Ingram. Chicago might balk at including Lavine in a deal, but I'd doubt it very seriously.
If the Sixers aren't interested in those kind of low-ceiling, offense-only, one-time all-stars, then they'll have to settle for a package that includes utility, potential, and fungible assets. A team like the Kings would part with Hield/Bagley and picks, and plenty of other teams would structure similar deals around a combination of high-value utility players, untapped potential, and future first rounders. I'm betting that Philly takes one of those deals in the end. But I suppose we'll see.
Looking around the league, though, I just don't see a lot of teams that are likely to trade away an established all-star or even an all-star caliber player for Ben Simmons right now. Someone could surprise me, of course. That's usually how it happens. But my guess is that there are a lot of teams that would want Simmons for the right price, but not many that consider the right price to be an all-star caliber player. I could see a couple of "hollow stats" all-stars being up for grabs. Minnesota doesn't think twice about trading Russell. New Orleans probably wouldn't bat an eye at offering Ingram. Chicago might balk at including Lavine in a deal, but I'd doubt it very seriously.
If the Sixers aren't interested in those kind of low-ceiling, offense-only, one-time all-stars, then they'll have to settle for a package that includes utility, potential, and fungible assets. A team like the Kings would part with Hield/Bagley and picks, and plenty of other teams would structure similar deals around a combination of high-value utility players, untapped potential, and future first rounders. I'm betting that Philly takes one of those deals in the end. But I suppose we'll see.
And Hield, Bagley and picks is probably a lot better than all those "and picks" deals that moved other stars granted we're talking about a team that hasn't sniffed the playoffs in 15 years vs. adding AD to the Lakers or some of those other deals that were meant to push a team to the conference finals or a ring.
They can't make it out of the second round despite tanking for multiple seasons and securing multiple picks in the top 3. They're in the EAST ffs.
Meanwhile Phoenix is in the Finals. Utah and Denver did things honestly and are no better or worse despite being in a competitive conference. ATL tore down and made the ECF during the process.
Just because the Kings suck doesn't mean Philly unlocked the secret recipe. They disgraced the league with a multi season tank and are about to have one player to show for it.
Meanwhile Phoenix is in the Finals. Utah and Denver did things honestly and are no better or worse despite being in a competitive conference. ATL tore down and made the ECF during the process.
Just because the Kings suck doesn't mean Philly unlocked the secret recipe. They disgraced the league with a multi season tank and are about to have one player to show for it.