We are now officially one month away from the 2022 NBA trade deadline. While some teams are still battling health and safety protocols, the rumor mill is likely to begin heating up quickly. As of now, the biggest name on the trade market remains to be Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Ben Simmons. The former No. 1 pick has still yet to suit up in a game amid a months-long stalemate with the organization.
There has not been much chatter regarding the Simmons saga, but there is still a decent-sized market for the 25-year-old. In his latest news dump, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported the Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, and Atlanta Hawks are all interested in acquiring Simmons.
Most of these teams have been common suspects, but there is one new name that recently entered the fray. Up until last week, the Hawks weren't tied to this situation, but now the chatter is picking up a bit as they struggle. A deal with Atlanta could get tricky, but there are some intriguing pieces potentially in play.
*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
As we know, Daryl Morey has maintained a high asking price for the disgruntled All-Star. He continues to search for an All-Star-level player he can pair alongside Joel Embiid for his prime years. It's fair to assume Atlanta has no intentions of dealing Trae Young, which leaves forward John Collins as the player to headline a possible return package.
From a fit perspective, Collins makes little sense on the Sixers. A trio of Collins, Embiid, and Tobias Harris in the frontcourt could lead to an array of spacing issues. Any chance of the Hawks landing Simmons would have to involve Collins getting rerouted somewhere else in a multi-team deal.
While Collins might not fit on the Sixers, there is one player on Atlanta's roster Morey should be interested in: 22-year-old Cam Reddish. Through 34 games, he's putting together the best season of his young career.
This season, Reddish is posting averages of 11.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and a steal. H's also shooting a career-high 37.9% from beyond the arc on four and a half attempts per game.
Coming out of Duke, Reddish has all the tools needed to be a capable 3-and-D wing player in the NBA. Standing at 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, he has the size and length to defend multiple positions.
Adding a player like Reddish to the Sixers' roster would give them a huge boost at the wing position. Pairing him with Matisse Thybulle would give them arguably the best young perimeter defensive duo in the NBA.
At this point in his career, Danny Green is not best equipped as the primary defender for a team. Thybulle is among the best when it comes to causing havoc on that end of the floor, but his offensive limitations make him tough to play in long stretches at times. Reddish's ability to space the floor would give the Sixers a two-way wing player who can defend at an above-average level.
There is no telling just how interested Morey is in pursuing a deal with Atlanta. But if there's real steam, Reddish is a player who should be on his radar. Acquiring him as a supplementary piece in a Simmons trade would be a huge win for Philly.
Follow Us
Subscribe