How This NBA Trade Scenario Looks For Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers aren’t as willing and excited to do this trade as the Dallas Mavericks are. While Ben Simmons’ value is as low as it has ever been in his career, it is still infinitely higher than the value of Kristaps Porzingis.
Had Simmons not struggled so mightily, with the highlight of him not dunking over Trae Young and passing the ball to Matisse Thybulle playing on a loop, a lot more people would have noticed just how much Porzingis struggled in the postseason himself.
He averaged 13.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. Porginzis also shot only 29.6 percent from the 3-point line as he could get nothing going against the Los Angeles Clippers.
While he had a rough showing there, the offensive potential with Kristaps Porzingis and Joel Embiid being paired together would be immense. Both are capable of playing inside-out and would present mismatches on offense. Defensively, however, the 76ers could run into some issues.
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A versatile defender such as Simmons would be excellent to have alongside those two in the frontcourt. Matisse Thybulle could play that role, but he doesn’t offer the same impact Simmons does.
Also, Philadelphia has tried this jumbo lineup before. While Porzingis offers more offense than Al Horford did, it could still be a tough thing to navigate.
To even get the attention of the 76ers for a deal centered on Porzingis, Dallas is going to have to attach a ton of draft picks. Philadelphia should ask for Jalen Brunson at a minimum as well. And, even at that point, Daryl Morey would still decline this deal.
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While Porzingis technically fits the mold of an All-Star caliber player, the void created at the point guard spot and red flags that come with Porzingis would make this a no-go for Philadelphia. This is only a deal they would consider if there was zero interest in Simmons, but that is not the case.
