The Philadelphia 76ers have to figure out what to do with this Ben Simmons situation. They are ready to play hardball with him, as they expect him to return to the team and play with them this NBA season.
This is a staredown between both sides, and someone will have to blink eventually. More than likely, it will be the 76ers who will, eventually trading him. This is a saga that needs to come to an end sooner than later, for everyone’s sake.
Multiple teams were linked to Simmons this offseason. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers have been the most recent frontrunners for him. However, the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors, and Indiana Pacers have also been linked to him.
With the Hawks struggling to begin the 2021-22 season and the 76ers experiencing the downside of not having one of their max contracts available to play amidst injuries, could the two sides benefit from making a trade?
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Of course, the narratives behind the Hawks being the team to trade for the player who had a meltdown in the playoffs against them would be fascinating, to say the least. However, there’s a real case to be made.
But, another team could emerge in the Atlanta Hawks. How would a deal for Simmons work for them? Let’s take a look at this hypothetical deal from Bleacher Report that pairs Simmons with Trae Young in their backcourt.