Why The San Antonio Spurs Do The Deal 

From the Spurs’ point of view, this deal can be viewed through two lenses. 

Firstly, the Spurs are a surprising 5-2. This could be construed as a win-now move. For all of his flaws, Simmons is the most talented player exchanging hands here. 

On the other hand, it could be seen as a rebuilding trade as well. The Spurs were largely expected to tank this season. Meanwhile, they don’t necessarily have an ideal roster to complement Simmons, either. 

So, the Spurs should make this deal and let the chips fall. If acquiring Simmons leads to wins, the Spurs don’t need a lottery pick.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets & San Antonio Spurs Updates

If it leads to losses, they can draft a player who complements him. For example, Victor Wembanyama / Ben Simmons pairing ought to terrify the NBA. 

In either case, having Simmons on the roster should benefit the Spurs – whether now or later. Does trading him benefit the Nets?