Since the news broke that Daryl Morey was fielding offers for Ben Simmons, an endless amount of teams have reportedly inquired about the former no. 1 pick. Despite this large group of potential suitors, no trade ever came about.
The rumor mill came to a screeching halt once the regular season went underway, but it is slowly beginning to swirl again. This is not surprising, as all contracts will be eligible to be traded later in the week.
In his latest news dump, Shams Charania of The Athletic provided an update to the ongoing talks centered around the three-time All-Star. He also provided a pool of teams that are reportedly interested in Simmons.
The list consisted of the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers. Charania also reported the Sixers are asking teams for an All-Star caliber player or multiple first-round picks.
While most of these teams have come and gone in rumors, there are some new names in the fray. Even if their interest is minimal, the Knicks and Lakers make little to no sense as trade partners for the disgruntled All-Star.
With how the Lakers' season has gone, it's not shocking they are eyeing to shake things up. That being said, Simmons solves very few of their problems. Not to mention they lack the assets to get the 25-year-old in the historic Purple and Gold.
As mentioned, Daryl Morey is holding out for a package that puts the Sixers in a better position to compete for a championship. The Lakers' roster consists of three stars and a plethora of veteran minimum deals. LA's only route to getting a deal done would be sending Russell Westbrook to Philly, but I doubt he is the type of player Morey has his eyes on.
The Knicks have the pieces to make a deal work finically but don't have the proper headlining piece. Julius Randle is an All-Star caliber player but does not complement Joel Embiid or Tobias Harris. For these reasons, it seems unlikely either team would win the Simmons sweepstakes.
New York might not be an organization that can acquire Simmons straight-up, but they can certainly help facilitate a deal. Multiple teams are sure to be involved when all is said and done. Between the contracts and young talent on their roster, the Knicks could insert themselves to land a different form of upgrade.
As it currently stands, Simmons is the top name on the trade market. Any team looking to improve for a playoff push will likely do their due diligence on the situation. Of the group mentioned in this latest report, the Knicks and Lakers stand out as the most unlikely destinations for Simmons.
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