Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: G/F Ben Simmons, G Shake Milton
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: F Kevin Love, G Collin Sexton, CLE 2022 1st Round Pick (Top-5 Protected), CLE 2024 1st Round Pick (Top-10 Protected)
If the Cavaliers are going to make a play for Ben Simmons, they better be ready to give up a fair amount of assets because Philadelphia is not going to just give him away. Simmons is still a very valuable asset and while he is considered a “project,” the 76ers do not necessarily want to trade him right now.
He has helped make the Sixers one of the better defensive teams in the league and with his versatility to guard/play numerous positions, Simmons is a guy that the 76ers can depend on to do just about everything but score.
Trading for Simmons would not be easy for the Cavaliers and in order to do so, they would likely have to part ways with Collin Sexton. This may not be the worst idea in the world though for Cleveland because there have been rumors that the Cavs could look to trade him this offseason.
READ MORE: NBA Draft Rumors: 4 players Cleveland Cavaliers could target in trade using No. 3 pick
Sexton is entering the final year of his rookie contract and given Cleveland’s financial restraints right now, trading their young guard for a guy like Ben Simmons could definitely be of interest to them, as could dumping the salary of Kevin Love.
The Cavaliers are locked-in to paying Kevin Love $60.2M over the next two seasons, which is not an ideal situation for a franchise looking to move on from rebuilding. As long as Love is on the roster, the Cavs are kind of stuck in terms of moves they can make and are limited in what they can do during the offseason.
READ MORE: NBA Rumors: 3 ideal trade targets for the 76ers in a Ben Simmons trade
Ben Simmons and Shake Milton are two guys that can come into Cleveland and help contribute immediately, possibly helping lift them from this rebuilding process. Giving up two protected future first-round picks has the Cavaliers putting “all of their eggs in one basket” with Simmons, but this is a trade that could definitely pay off big time for them.
With this said, let’s take a look at this trade proposal from both team’s perspectives and evaluate whether or not this trade truly makes sense for both the Cavaliers and the 76ers.
