It’s likely no well-kept secret that the Sixers will look to move on from Ben Simmons this summer. But What could they realistically get?
While this conversation used to be filled with names like Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, Ben Simmons’ value has understandably depreciated this past season. With that being said, though, he should still be one of the most sought-after players on the trade block this summer.
There are deals to be made that can benefit the Sixers. Ones that involve players who, while they may not be stars, they can potentially provide the right type of value to finally get the Sixers to the Conference Finals and beyond, starting with the obvious:
The Obvious – CJ McCollum
CJ McCollum has long been mentioned in Ben Simmons trade talks, but for so long, those talks were brief as Simmons’ value was so far above McCollum’s. While that is still the case to a degree, Simmons stock has fallen quite a bit, leading to not only a potential McCollum deal but a Robert Covington reunion as well.
The Sixers would get their scoring guard and would retain some defensive versatility in the process. The Blazers, meanwhile, finally switch things up and secure a player who can, at last, make their defense respectable. Additionally, they would replenish their guard depth by not only adding George Hill but Shake Milton, one of the best value contracts in the league.
The Underrated – Malcolm Brogdon
Malcolm Brogdon has consistently been one of the more underrated players in the NBA. He’s a solid defender, passer, and a very talented shooter/scorer. He can essentially do it all, not quite in the same way Ben Simmons has been advertised, but perhaps in a way that is a more beneficial fit to the Sixers.
By adding a savvy ball-handler like Brogdon, the Sixers might finally be able to get the most out of Joel Embiid. Not to mention that you would be adding another sharp-shooting offensive engine in T.J. Warren.
All this for the cost of Ben Simmons and Shake Milton seems like a win-win for both teams (though Indy would need to trade one of Turner or Sabonis).
The “Let’s Get Weird” – Pascal Siakam
Okay, hear me out. The Sixers need a guard, and Pascal Siakam is certainly not that; however, he could certainly provide some incredible value alongside Joel Embiid for years to come. Siakam is near the scoring equal of Harris and is a solid defensive upgrade.
The Sixers would be once again a guard away, but with the rise of Tyrese Maxey, they may not be as far off as we once thought. A lineup of Maxey, Curry, Harris, Siakam, and Embiid is nothing to sneeze at. It’s a lineup that just by fit alone could help the Sixers exceed what they’ve accomplished in the past.
The odd man out obviously is Harris though he could be moved in a secondary move, say for another name on this list, CJ McCollum. It might not be the most ideal move, but it’s one that would provide the Sixers with another All-Star caliber player, something they may struggle to do when attempting to shop Simmons.
