We are slightly over a month into the NBA season, and the end of the Ben Simmons saga is still nowhere in sight. The 25-year-old has been at shootarounds recently but remains mentally unprepared to rejoin his Philadelphia 76ers teammates in games.

There is still no guessing what the final result of this situation will be, but a trade remains the most sensible outcome. While the rumor mill quieted a ton once the season began, it is sure to heat up soon. As of December 15th, players signed to contracts over the summer will become eligible in trades.

With that key date rapidly approaching, the people at Bleacher Report recently ranked the 10 likeliest players the Sixers are likely to target. The majority of the list was common names linked to Simmons all summer, but some interesting targets could be considered dark horses.

Among the players mentioned were Memphis Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks, San Antonio Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray, and Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby. They all might not be the caliber of player Daryl Morey is seeking, but they are certainly interesting starting points in a trade.

Brooks is currently having a career-year scoring-wise for the Grizzles, posting a point per game average of just under 19. He is also an above-average defender who could help fill the void left by Simmons. The one blemish on his resume thus far is outside shooting. Currently, Brooks is only shooting 32.4 percent from beyond the arc on about five attempts per game.

The fit is there, but the Sixers are better off going in a different direction with a trade. Brooks is a good player but doesn't fit the category of needle-move Morey is looking for.

Murray and Anunoby have a case to be a high-level player Morey should consider as the focal point in a return package for Simmons. They are both young players with great upside and have continually improved throughout their careers.

So far this season, Murray is averaging 18.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 8.1 assists. On top of that, he has established himself as one of the best defensive guards in the league. At 25 years old, Murray is just getting ready to enter the prime years of his career.

The only potential issue with a move like this is the fit alongside Tyrese Maxey. Also, Murray is not the best 3-point shooter at just 30.6 percent. If he were to come to Philadelphia, Maxey would have to slide back to a bench role. It's unclear if the Sixers view Maxey as their new point guard of the future or not, but bringing in a guy like Murray could slow down the young guard's development.

Out of these three players, Anunoby is the most intriguing player. He is an athletic young forward who has added multiple new elements to his game since joining the Raptors. Currently, Anunoby is posting averages of 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists.

As far as fit goes, a deal like this would be the most seamless. Anunoby can slide in as the new starting small forward while providing skills on both ends to complement the lineup. His 36.6 percent shooting from three on almost eight attempts per game makes him an ideal complement on the floor with Joel Embiid.

The only real question regarding this type of trade is how much higher does Anunoby raise the Sixers' ceiling? There is no denying he is an upgrade to the roster but might not improve them enough to entice Morey.

Morey still has loads of time before the real deciding point in the Simmons saga. That being said, most of the players mentioned should be on his radar.