When people are excited about an NBA prospect, they compare them to legends. Everyone’s looking for the “next” someone. Throughout the 90s, every talented scoring guard was “the next Jordan”. In the end, only the late Kobe Bryant came close to fulfilling that promise.
More recently, teams have been looking for the next LeBron James. Good luck with that. James is one of the best players of all time. Guys that produce at his level don’t come around very often. Still, that hasn’t stopped pundits from strapping any plus-size playmaker with the “next LeBron James” label.
For some time, Ben Simmons of the Brooklyn Nets carried that label. He even came close to making it look reasonable. Simmons was an All-NBA player, but recently, his production has seen a steep decline. Could the Los Angeles Lakers pair him with James anyway?
The Trade Proposal
Brooklyn Nets Receive: G D’Angelo Russell, F Rui Hachimura
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: F/C Ben Simmons, 2027 First-Round Pick (PHX via BKN)
In some respects, the expectations that we put on young players are unfair. Simmons never needed to be James – he only needed to be Simmons. The comparison is almost absurd. Who’s going to be as productive as LeBron James?
On the other hand, comparison is a tool. It gives us a frame of reference in which to place these players. It’s just a tool that we ought to use sparingly. Scouts should provide a ceiling, floor and median comparison. It’s not fair to say that a player is going to be as good as one of the best players in NBA history.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
By now, Simmons is well short of that mark. Did the expectations he was strapped with from an early age hurt his psyche? Is it possible that Simmons is struggling mentally with how far he’s fallen? Should the Lakers acquire him in spite of those concerns?
Why The Los Angeles Lakers Do The Deal
Some Lakers fans will bristle at this suggestion. Realistically, a lot of fans wouldn’t want their team to acquire Simmons, regardless of his fit with their roster. Meanwhile, Simmons isn’t even an intuitively obvious fit for the Lakers. Are we sure about this?
No. On the other hand, the Lakers could stand to net an unprotected first-round pick. This team is light on draft capital and ill-prepared for life after James. This deal fixes that to an extent. Is it worth giving up two valuable rotation players for?
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
That’s a difficult call. On the other hand, if Simmons can be a valuable rotation player, it’s worth the cost. The Lakers would likely use him as a sixth man to run the team’s offense when James sat. When the two played together, the Lakers could use Simmons as a roll man in pick-and-roll sets. For all of his flaws, Simmons can still be an impactful player on the defensive end if nothing else. Should the Nets give him up?
Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
By contrast, the Nets have draft capital to spare. In fact, they’ve got plenty of it. On the other hand, they don’t have control of their own draft. The Houston Rockets control the Nets’ draft through to 2027. So, the Nets have no incentive to lose.
Can they find a way to incorporate Simmons into their rotation? It’s possible. Still, he fell out of it last season. If the Nets don’t have any faith remaining in Simmons, they ought to move him. IN return, they should seek a playmaker and roster depth. They’re getting both here.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Russell would be an especially appealing addition to this roster. He had the best years of his career in Brooklyn, and the Nets are missing a player with his skill set. He may not be the next Chris Paul, but he’s a capable playmaker nonetheless.
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