Toronto Raptors Receive: G/F Ben Simmons, 2023 First-Round Pick (PHI), 2027 First-Round Pick (PHI)
Brooklyn Nets Receive: F Pascal Siakam
We can already hear the protests of Raptors fans on this one. Why would they trade their beloved Siakam for the scarcely available Ben Simmons?
Consider it an upside gamble. It’s easy to view Simmons as a distressed asset now, but fans would do well to remember who he was. A healthy Simmons is arguably as impactful a player as Siakam. Flipping them while landing two first-round picks in the process, on a surface level, is a good value trade.
In fact, it’s quite the gamble for the Nets too. They’ll be even more squarely in championship-or-bust mode following this deal. Their draft capital becomes virtually non-existent.
They can’t afford to hesitate on that basis. Simply put, they’re already in championship-or-bust mode. If this deal gets declined, it’ll be by the Raptors.
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They could rationalize that Simmons wasn’t worth the risk, and nobody would bat an eye. In that event, the next deal may be more appealing to them.
