The Philadelphia 76ers are beginning to re-stabilize themselves after they were hit hard by injuries and players being placed in the league’s health and safety protocols. After starting the 2021-22 NBA season 8-2, things went off the rails once players started exiting the lineup.

The loss of Joel Embiid was the straw that broke the camel’s back, as the 76ers didn’t have enough to replace him. Replacing one star player is difficult enough, but when you are already down another one in Ben Simmons, it is virtually impossible.

Their record reflected that, as they have fluctuated around the .500 mark the last month or so. If they want to avoid bottoming out again and wasting a year of Embiid’s prime, finding a trade partner for Simmons would be ideal.

The organization would love to have Simmons rejoin the team, but that seems like a long shot. He recently surpassed $10 million in fines as the 76ers continue docking him for every game that he misses.

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Despite the large sum of money that Simmons is actively passing on, he seems unfazed. There remains no timetable for his return to the court as he continues working on his mental and physical health.

With no end in sight, the 76ers may begin to accept the reality that a trade needs to get done. Not maximizing Embiid’s prime is a detriment to the organization, so finding a trade sooner than later makes sense.

If that is the route they take, here are three players the Philadelphia 76ers should prioritize targeting in a trade involving Simmons.