Ben Simmons is still a member of the Sixers, and that won’t change any time soon, but the team is rumored to have discussed a swap for Jerami Grant.
The Philadelphia 76ers have had talks with seemingly every team in the league when it comes to a Ben Simmons trade. From the Trail Blazers to the Cavaliers, from the Spurs to the Raptors, there seems to be no shortage of teams checking in on the Sixers’ star. It had been reported (via Keith) that the Detroit Pistons were interested in Ben Simmons.
Now, a new report, also from The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey, has stated that the Sixers and Pistons held conversations involving a Ben Simmons and Jerami Grant swap “for several months.” While those talks are no longer current, Pompey explains why they may still be of note going forward:
“The Sixers have had discussions about Grant for several months, according to sources. In September, Detroit was unwilling to part ways with one of their young talents. That’s no longer the case for the Pistons, a squad that struggles to attract free agents.”
Keith Pompey
The Pistons willingly involving Grant in the deal is not a surprise, nor is their initial hesitation to include their young talent. After all, they’re a young franchise currently without a direction despite drafting Cade Cunningham with the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft.
What’s curious is who the “young talent” in question is. Likely, the answer would be either Killian Hayes or, preferably, Saddiq Bey. Either way, pair that player with Jerami Grant and a first-round pick, and you have yourself a solid trade package, albeit without an All-Star.
