Trade season is fast approaching in the NBA, and the most prominent option on the market remains one, Ben Simmons. He requested a trade from the 76ers last Summer. Keeping true to his intent, he hasn’t played a game since.
With recent reports revealing a concerted effort on the 76ers part to find a deal, it looks as though we may finally conclude this most tumultuous saga in Philadelphia. In a recent article, Shams Charania shared some teams with interest in acquiring the young all-star.
“The New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers are among the teams interested in Simmons, sources said, although it�s unclear how much traction Philadelphia truly has on any move […] But it�s clear 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey has his eyes set on a potential trade scenario to ship Simmons out of Philadelphia […] The 76ers are currently asking teams for an All-Star-caliber player and/or multiple first-round draft picks for Simmons.”
Shams Charania
Some of the teams listed above may come as a surprise, but considering his talent, having Ben Simmons on your team certainly couldn’t hurt. Trade restrictions on several players will expire on December 15th. With that, the market should burst wide open for a slew of impending trades to take form. With any luck, one such deal should include Ben Simmons finding himself a new home.
Ben Simmons on the outs in Philadelphia
The former first overall pick in 2016 reached an impasse with the 76ers after last year’s playoffs. Simmons looked particularly bad down the stretch of multiple games. That resulted in him becoming a primary target of criticism once the 76ers bowed out of contention. He made his demands for a trade clear during the offseason.
Philadelphia had no issue complying with his request at first. However, no suitor came forward with what they would consider a palatable offer. This brings us to now, where Simmons remains employed by the team but shows no intention of playing again until he no longer is.
As for what NBA team he joins, while currently unknown, the hope is that Simmons would eventually restore his all-star status. After what he showed in the 2021 playoffs, many have come to doubt his promise. We’ve long since discussed why Ben Simmons didn’t work out with the Philadelphia 76ers. That said, where he ends up will go a long way in assuring his sustained potential towards superstardom.
