The New York Knicks made a return to the playoffs this season but were a first-round exit. Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons has been in trade rumors after a bad playoff performance. Despite his flaws, Simmons is still an elite player who would fit perfectly in head coach Tom Thibodeau's system.
Thibodeau is a defensive-minded coach, and he could do wonders with a player like Simmons. He could elevate the Knicks' ceiling and make them a legitimate threat.
Simmons would fit really well alongside star Julius Randle. Randle is a great offensive player who can score at any level. Simmons' strengths of defense and playmaking would complement Randle perfectly.
Here is the perfect trade the Knicks must offer the Sixers for Ben Simmons.
Knicks trade Derrick Rose, Obi Toppin, 19th pick in the 2021 draft, and a 2023 first-round pick
The Knicks have a ton of cap space this offseason and have the opportunity to make an elite team. This deal would require the Knicks to sign-and-trade Rose, but that is entirely possible. Many teams have made sign-and-trade deals over the past few seasons, and this one makes a ton of sense for New York. The Knicks can fit in Simmons' big salary and still make other moves.
This trade would also make sense for the Sixers. They would be getting a great scorer in Derrick Rose along with a young player in Obi Toppin. Toppin and Rose would instantly help Philly's offense reach a new level, while the draft picks would be great future assets.
Acquiring Rose in a sign-and-trade would hard cap the Sixers, but they would have some wiggle room.
What would the Sixers look like after trading away Simmons?
Although this trade seems underwhelming, it would make a lot of sense for Philly. Rose is a player who can create his own offense. That is a skill the Sixers were lacking in the playoffs aside from Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris. Rose put up 14.7 points per game in the regular season and an efficient 19.4 points per game in the playoffs, and he just had his best season shooting the 3 at 41.1% during his time in New York.
Toppin would also be a welcomed addition, especially for the bench unit. A weakness on the Sixers has been their bench unit at the power forward position. Toppin could take this role as he continues to progress into a better player. He didn't get a ton of minutes in his rookie campaign, but he showed his potential when he got playing time.
The third part of the deal is the draft picks. Acquiring the 19th pick in the draft could be used to pick up a quality bench player for the upcoming season. The 2023 first-round pick would help the Sixers in a few years, or they use it in a trade. This trade would be helpful for the Sixers as they look to contend for a championship next season.
What would the Knicks look like after acquiring Simmons?
The Knicks are a team on the rise, and bringing in Simmons could expedite their rise. He is one of the best defenders in the league while also being a great passer. The Knicks also have a ton of cap space in the offseason, so they have flexibility to make moves.
Simmons has the versatility to play the point guard, small forward or power forward position for the Knicks. Simmons would be a great addition, especially if they can also add scoring in the offseason. His playmaking and defense would bring a much-needed skill set to New York.
The Knicks must offer this deal to the Sixers to get closer to becoming a contender.
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