2. Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers were the first team to reportedly send an offer to the Philadelphia 76ers centered around Ben Simmons. They offered Malcolm Brogdon and the 13th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft for Simmons, but Philadelphia rejected the trade.

Given what the 76ers were looking for in return for Simmons at the draft, it is no shock that they turned down the Pacers’ offer. However, Indiana should still push to acquire Simmons in a trade.

Simmons’ defense is something that the Pacers could use. They have a lot of players that can get the job done offensively, but they lack someone to set the tone on defense. Simmons could do that at the point of attack as the team’s point guard.

The Pacers also have a lot of players that are capable playmakers. Caris LeVert, Domantas Sabonis, T.J. McConnell and Brogdon are all excellent passers. All four averaged at least 4.9 assists per game last season.

Having other players that can initiate the offense would give Rick Carlisle some freedom to tinker with his lineups, putting Simmons in other positions so that he could get some easy looks at the basket.