Ben Simmons – Philadelphia 76ers
In the offseason, several teams inquired about the availability of Ben Simmons and the San Antonio Spurs were one of those teams. Maybe they were not seriously interested in trading for him, but it is clear to see how and why Simmons would fit in with this roster.
He is athletic, would be great in pick-and-roll situations with Dejounte Murray and is one of the best defensive players in the league. The Spurs developmental system has always gotten the most out of low-post players in the past, just ask Tim Duncan, so it is not hard to believe they could turn Ben Simmons into a big threat in the low-post/paint area offensively.
The cost of going after Ben Simmons though could be too much for the Spurs. The 76ers are wanting an All-Star-level talent for their All-Star 7-footer and since the Spurs do not have said value on their team to trade, they would have to pull another team or two into this deal with the 76ers.
As a result, San Antonio would have to relinquish a ton of future value to other teams in order to get a “project” in Ben Simmons. This may not be the best thing for them right now, especially since Dejounte Murray, Derrick White and Keldon Johnson present a bright future for this team.
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Ben Simmons is not close to being the best version of himself and it would take a lot of work for San Antonio to turn him into something special. This is not saying that they cannot, as this team and staff certainly can, but the risk is just not worth the reward at this kind of price.
Verdict: Pass
