Ben Simmons trade rumors: 'Increasingly likely' that 76ers guard is traded to one of three suitors | Sporting News

 

Unless you live under a rock, everyone in the city of Philadelphia has most likely come to terms that Ben Simmons has played his last game as a Sixer. While Doc Rivers has gone on national tv and said he wants Ben back, it seems that the relationship between him and Rivers is hostile to fix. So let's play a game. I'm going to put out four trade ideas ( two this week and two were put out last week, which you can check here) from the four most likely teams Ben gets traded to, and let us see if we have a deal! Answer in the comments if you would agree to any of these deals!

Deal #3

Team: San Antonio Spurs

Oddsmakers have Spurs among favorites to trade for Ben Simmons - Pounding The Rock

Sixers Recieve: Keldon Johnson, Dejonte Murray, and 1st round pick

Spurs Recieve: Ben Simmons and Shake Milton

At the beginning of the Ben Simmons saga, there was a report that RC Buford, who is the Spurs GM, would trade "anybody" to get Simmons on the Spurs. Fast forward three months later, and I'm not sure everybody is on the table. Yet, the Spurs do have some intriguing young talent. They have two insanely talented guards defensively in Derrick White and Dejonte Murray. Murray would be the choice due to his salary matching up more in a deal than White, and he is also simply a better player, in my opinion. After tearing his ACL, Murray averaged 15.7 ppg, 7.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. He is a below-average 3pt shooter at 31.7%, but he can guard 1-3 and even replace Ben's rebounding ability.

Maybe, it's just the Spurs system, but I am enamored with Keldon Johnson (Kawhi 2.0, in my opinion). Every year since he entered the NBA, he has improved. Of course, that comes with more playing time, but at 6'5 and a 6'9 wingspan, he also has the potential to be an elite defender, and, like Kahwi's, his game is straightforward and composed. If the deal doesn't involve Johnson, I won't entertain the phone call.

With two starters, the Sixers would have to give up Shake Milton, and I think Milton would replace Patty Mill's 6th man roles very well in Pop's system. 

So Sixers fans, do we have a deal?

 

Deal #4

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota Timberwolves: Stan Van Gundy, Beverley on Ben Simmons

Sixers Recieve D'Angelo Russel, Malik Beasly, 1st round pick

Timberwolves Recieve: Ben Simmons, Furkan Korkmaz, and a future 2nd 

The Timberwolves recently made a surprising front-office shakeup as they let go of Gersson Rosas, the president of basketball operations. They replaced him with Sachin Gupta. Gupta is an analytics guru, ESPN's trade machine creator, and protege of Sam Presti. Reports have surfaced that it's Gupta's "goal" to get Ben Simmons to Minnesota. 

Other reports have claimed that the Timberwolves will not involve Anthony Edwards, Karl Anthony-Towns, or D'Angelo Russel in any trade. If that's the case, then this deal has a 0% chance of happening. 

So, here is a trade that I think can get the deal done. I'm not too fond of Russel's game, but he does shoot 38.7% from 3 and has ice in his veins. Malik Beasly is a perfect complement to Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris. He doesn't need the ball in his hands and shot 39.9% from 3 last year. In this potential deal, you are getting two excellent 3pt shooters who both averaged 20ppg. On the downside, neither of these players can play a lick of defense. 

With acquiring two elite shooters, the Sixers will have to give up one of theirs. Korkmaz sadly has to be the guy as I don't see Morey parting ways with Seth Curry or Danny Green.

So Sixers fans, do we have a deal?