The Sixers have had trade talks around Ben Simmons with the Toronto Raptors. What’s the latest, and what does a realistic offer look like?
It doesn’t seem like Ben Simmons will be returning to the Sixers next season, and the team is not only fielding offers but making them. According to multiple sources, the Toronto Raptors have expressed interest in Simmons, and it seems the Sixers are interested in continuing those trade talks. According to Matt Moore of Hardwood Paroxysm, the latest proposed deal came from the Sixers camp. Initially, it was reported as Simmons for Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and a first-round pick.
From a value standpoint, that’s not bad. It doesn’t give the Sixers an “All-Star caliber player,” but it’s more than solid from a value perspective. It’s actually an overpay from Toronto in terms of straight value. It turns out, though, that the proposed deal was actually slightly different.
Apparently, Daryl Morey, afraid of nothing, found it in himself to ask the Raptors for essentially all of their assets for Simmons. The updated details of the proposed trade were Ben Simmons for *takes deep breath* Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
The Sixers clearly believe Simmons’ value is still extremely high regardless of his poor postseason performance. It’s highly doubtful Morey expected the Raptors to accept the deal. More likely, Morey was trying to send a message that he will not settle when it comes to trading Simmons, and that’s the right move. If it’s been said once, it’s been said a thousand times, but Daryl Morey will not just give Simmons away.
The first reported offer with the Raptors involving VanVleet, Anunoby, and a first-round pick is a much more realistic deal, though again, Toronto may view it as an overpay. If the Raptors were to remove the first-round pick and offer VanVleet and Anunoby for Simmons, again, it doesn’t meet the “All-Star caliber player” requirement, but it would be a very solid haul for the Sixers, and they should certainly consider it.
