Things have been somewhat quiet on the Ben Simmons trade front since the regular season tipped off. The three-time All-Star still hasn't suited up for the Philadelphia 76ers this season, and a trade still appears to be the inevitable outcome. While the rumor mill has been quiet, two factors could cause it to go into a full tailspin once again.
The first one is the crucial date of December 15th rapidly approaching. From there, all players who signed deals in the offseason are eligible to be traded, affording teams more flexibility to facilitate deals.
Daryl Morey might not be waiting for a specific player to become available after this date. But it will make his job easier in terms of salary-matching. Due to Simmons being on a max contract, teams have a high salary point they need to reach. Now having their entire rosters at their disposal, potential suitors can improve their trade offers.
Secondly, and arguably the bigger factor, is NBA trade season is finally upon us. Typically, teams use the opening weeks of the season to figure out where they stand not only this season, but moving forward as well. We are now a little over a month in the year, and some organizations are gearing for a drastic change.
The Indiana Pacers are a team that stands out in particular. Recently, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported the team is fielding offers for Caris LeVert, Myles Turner and former All-Star Damontas Sabonis. To put it simply, they are having a fire sale to start a full-scale rebuild.
Over the summer, Indiana was one of the many teams linked to the Simmons saga. While Morey might not be interested in some of their reported offers, they can certainly help facilitate a trade.
Looking back at the James Harden trade last year, an array of teams walked away with assets. Seeing how that trade played out, it's fair to assume when a deal for Simmons happens, multiple teams will be involved.
Morey has made his stance on trading Simmons clear. He will only move the former number one pick in a deal that improves the Sixers' chances of competing for a championship. Unfortunately, most of the teams with reported interest are rebuilding and have limited high-level players.
This is where a team like Indiana can have an impact. The trio of talented players on the trading block should entice a plethora of front offices to call Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard. If Morey can weave the contracts of LeVert, Turner or Sabonis into a three-team deal involving Simmons, it could net him the high-caliber player he strongly desires.
The end of the Ben Simmons saga remains nowhere in sight. Based on upcoming dates, the rumor mill is likely to heat up from now until the trade deadline in two short months.
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