As the NBA regular season rages on, so does the Ben Simmons saga for the Philadelphia 76ers. Trade season is finally upon us, and we are starting to see the rumor mill begin to swirl once again. As of now, there is no hotter name on the trade market than Simmons.
Despite how long this stalemate between player and organization has dragged on, one thing has remained constant: Daryl Morey will not sell low on the former No. 1 pick. He remains in pursuit of an All-Star-caliber player to exchange for Simmons and pair alongside Joel Embiid in his prime. That being said, here are three players Morey needs to avoid in trade talks.
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Players Sixers must avoid in Ben Simmons trade discussions
Based on reports, Domantas Sabonis might be the biggest name available via trade outside of Simmons. Indiana appears to be heading toward a rebuild and is looking to move on from multiple key players, with the All-Star big man just one trade candidate.
So far this season, Sabonis has put up similar numbers to his two All-Star seasons. The 25-year-old is currently averaging 18.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. While Sabonis fits the criteria of an All-Star-level player, his fit on the Sixers is questionable at best.
We are not far removed from the Al Horford experiment in Philadelphia and how poorly that went. Putting Sabonis in the frontcourt with Embiid could potentially have even worse results if a trade were to go down. His set of skills don't complement the Sixers' franchise cornerstone.
Both big men are most effective around the rim. Having them share the floor would only create spacing issues, which is something the Sixers know all too well. Sabonis has yet to have a season with over three attempts from deep a game and is only shooting 29.3% from beyond this year.
From a basketball sense, there is very little reason why Morey should give any thought to pursuing a deal like this.
2) Jerami Grant
Another interesting name that has popped up in trade rumors recently is forward Jerami Grant. Since joining the Detroit Pistons, the 27-year-old has shown he can thrive with a bigger role. He is currently in the midst of his second straight season of averaging over 20 points per game.
While Grant is a better fit on the Sixers than Sabonis, there are still some concerns. One being him sharing a lineup with Tobias Harris, as both are best optimized at power forward.
Defense is an area the Sixers need to consider when trading Simmons, and Grant can help tremendously. We saw in his time with the Denver Nuggets that he can lock up opposing stars. With his size and athleticism, he can defend multiple positions.
The Sixers are a team looking to compete for a championship, which is why they should stay away from Grant. Yes, he could improve the roster, but not to the degree Morey is looking. They need someone who moves the needle, and Grant is not that big of a difference-maker. Plus, he's currently out after thumb surgery and will miss at least six weeks.
After making a big splash last summer, things have not gone as planned for the Los Angeles Lakers. The trio of Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis has not meshed as well as some might have thought. Between the questionable fit and lackluster start to the season, rumors have surfaced about the Lakers possibly wanting to trade the former MVP.
Westbrook certainly fits the bill as an All-Star talent, but he should not be what the Sixers are eyeing. Morey has been down this road before, and it did not go well.
For starters, Westbrook is already 33 years old. At this point in his career, his timeline doesn't fit with Embiid, who's just entering his prime. Acquiring him arguably closes the Sixers' championship window, not opens it.
Then there's the fit on the floor. As a career 30% 3-point shooter, Westbrook does not complement the rest of the Sixers' starting lineup. While he would help with facilitation and rebounding, his offensive limitations mirror those of Simmons.
Based on the reporting out there, it seems like Morey doesn't have much interest in Westbrook. He needs to keep it that way.
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Morey and the Sixers would be much better off simply keeping Simmons into the offseason than making a move for any of these players. What they get in return for the disgruntled All-Star will greatly impact their chances of contention, and Morey only has one chance to get it right.
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