Atlanta Hawks Receive: G/F Ben Simmons, F Paul Reed, PHI 2023 2nd Round Pick, PHI 2024 2nd Round Pick
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: F De’Andre Hunter, F Cam Reddish, F Danilo Gallinari, ATL 2023 1st Round Pick (Top-8 Protected), ATL 2024 1st Round Pick (Swap, More Favorable to PHI)
To land Ben Simmons from the Philadelphia 76ers, the Atlanta Hawks would have to be willing to offer up a handful of very valuable players who each held a key role in this team’s attack last season, but this could be a move that is worthwhile for them.
Both Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter are young talents with a lot of upside, but at the same time, Ben Simmons is a proven All-Star who is only 25-years-old.
His struggles on the offensive end of the floor are well-documented, but through four full seasons playing in the league, Simmons has averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and has shot 56% from the floor.
While the 3x All-Star is utilized as a primary ball-handler, he could really thrive playing in the frontcourt in pick-and-roll sets with Trae Young, one of the league’s better pick-and-roll ball-handlers and guards.
READ MORE: Predictions for Latest NBA Trade Rumors: Simmons, Siakam, Dragic, Lillard
The only question about adding Ben Simmons to the Hawks roster is what their rotation would look like. John Collins and Clint Capela both signed new contracts to keep them in Atlanta long-term, and they are both starters in the Hawks’ frontcourt, so this would mean that Simmons would likely have to play on the wing as the starting “small-forward.”
This could wind up working for Atlanta since Ben Simmons really is a “positionless” basketball player that can be moved around given his defensive versatility, but at the same time, putting him on the wing starting with the likes of John Collins and Clint Capela means that the Hawks would be sacrificing a lot of three-point shooting.
As for the 76ers, they would not be getting the All-Star talent they want back in return for Ben Simmons, but at the same time, they would be getting three key talents who not only improve their depth but make them a much better three-point shooting team.
READ MORE: Predictions for Latest NBA Trade Rumors: Simmons, Siakam, Dragic, Lillard
Gallinari shot over 40% from deep last season, and both Hunter and Reddish have the potential to be high-level three-point shooters. Not to mention, De’Andre Hunter has proven to be an effective two-way wing when healthy.
In terms of upside and depth, this is not a bad trade for the Philadelphia 76ers, and for the Atlanta Hawks, they would be adding a two-way star in this league, but does this trade truly make sense for both teams involved?
