Details of this trade for all teams involved
When you look at what the Philadelphia 76ers get in return here for Ben Simmons, there is no denying the fact that Eric Bledsoe and OG Anunoby can help them still be a contending team in the Eastern Conference this upcoming year, but is this really the best trade the76ers can get for Simmons?
All offseason long, Daryl Morey and the Sixers’ front office has been searching for ways to possibly add another All-Star talent to their roster in exchange for Ben Simmons, but they have been unable to find this trade they have wanted.
With Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal being off-the-market, the best team they have reportedly received was from the Indiana Pacers consisting of Malcolm Brogdon and a first-round pick.
Out of all the teams still vying to try and trade for Ben Simmons, this is probably the best offer Philly is going to get at this point and they should definitely revisit this trade scenario with the Pacers to see if it is still on the table.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Everything To Know About Latest Ben Simmons NBA Trade Rumors
Adding Brogdon is much better than adding Bledsoe, Anunoby, and Johnson, but in terms of getting guys that can help right away, sure, this trade does kind of give the 76ers a section of what they would like.
As for the Raptors and Thunder, they are two teams that could also be on the receiving end of this trade in other aspects of not landing Ben Simmons, but would they really want to be? Toronto loves what they have with OG Anunoby being a combo-forward and a versatile guy they can move around the court.
With Kyle Lowry now gone, this team is going to need players to step up and coming off his best season on both ends of the court, Anunoby is in-line to possibly have a Most Improved Player like season, especially with Pascal Siakam out to begin the year after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Everything To Know About Latest Ben Simmons NBA Trade Rumors
The Thunder are definitely a team that could be interested in taking on a rather large contract like Marcus Morris’ or Luke Kennard’s, but is Darius Bazley really a player they would want to give up? They drafted him 23rd overall in 2019 and Bazley has proven to be a key building block for them at both forward positions, so getting rid of him may set the Thunder back a little bit.
At the same time, though, Oklahoma City needs to bring in another big contract so they can reach the salary cap floor set in place by the league of about $102M, something they are close to $20M below.
There are bits and pieces of this trade that do make sense for each team involved, like the Raptors adding a young, proven center in Zubac and the 76ers adding “win-now” guys like OG Anunoby and Eric Bledsoe, but then you have aspects of the trade that do not make much sense, like the Thunder giving up Bazley for three second-round picks and the Sixers moving Simmons for no draft picks better than a first-rounder in 2027.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Everything To Know About Latest Ben Simmons NBA Trade Rumors
Theoretically, the LA Clippers can put together a trade package that works financially in order to bring in Ben Simmons, but in terms of having valuable assets to trade for him, they really do not have what the 76ers want/need in a Ben Simmons oriented trade. It is definitely a long-shot for the Clippers to land Simmons, but we have seen crazier things happen in the NBA!
