There are a lot of teams in the league that could make changes to their roster at or ahead of the trade deadline. The Indiana Pacers, the Boston Celtics, and the Philadelphia 76ers are all teams that need to change some things up to achieve success. Perhaps they could help one another.
Our blockbuster 3-team trade features Jaylen Brown going to the Philadelphia 76ers and Ben Simmons going to the Boston Celtics. The Boston Celtics would also get two solid players from the Pacers in Myles Turner and T. J. Warren, while the Indiana Pacers would get a rebuilding package featuring assets from both the 76ers and the Celtics.
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics Receive: Ben Simmons, Myles Turner, T. J. Warren
Indiana Pacers Receive: Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, Matisse Thybulle, Aaron Nesmith, 2022 first-round pick (BOS), 2022 first-round pick (PHI)
The Philadelphia 76ers Get A Perimeter Star To Pair With Joel Embiid
One of the biggest concerns about the Ben Simmons-Joel Embiid pairing was always the fit between the two stars. Both stars are players who score on the interior, and while there was definitely some effort from the 76ers to surround them with shooters, it is clear that the fit was never perfect.
This trade would get the Philadelphia 76ers Jaylen Brown a wing player who is a perimeter shot creator that can also defend at a high level. He is currently averaging 24.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 2.6 APG. Jaylen Brown would definitely fit well next to Joel Embiid, and pairing a shot creator with a dominant big man is usually a recipe for success. Notably, a Jaylen Brown-Ben Simmons swap was touted as a likely scenario for the 76ers.
In essence, the Philadelphia 76ers would be sending out Ben Simmons, Matisse Thybulle, and their 2022 first-round pick to get Jaylen Brown. This could be something they’re interested in, as they’d get an impactful player for Ben Simmons while not giving up that much to do so.
The Philadelphia 76ers would be able to build around a core featuring Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey, and that would definitely allow them to compete in the Eastern Conference. They would also retain a lot of their good role players in this scenario, such as Seth Curry and Andre Drummond.
The Boston Celtics Get A Star Who Can Run The Offense
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum is also a star pairing that is viewed as having a difficult fit with one another. Both Brown and Tatum play thrive in the perimeter shot creator role. The Celtics could potentially find more success if they were to split up the pair and bring in a star that can play a different role than Brown.
Ben Simmons is a player who is adept at defending, creating opportunities for his teammates, and running the offense. The Boston Celtics would be a perfect place for that particular skill set, and he could elevate the scorers on the Celtics such as Jayson Tatum and Dennis Schroder. There is no question that Ben Simmons would be a better fit with Jayson Tatum than Jaylen Brown, as the two do different things on offense rather than having an overlapping skillset.
The Boston Celtics would also bring in some win-now players in Myles Turner and T. J. Warren. Warren is a two-way wing, and if he gets healthy this season, he would be a perfect 3rd option and supplementary scorer. Myles Turner is one of the best rim protectors in the league, and he could help improve their defense.
In this scenario, the Celtics would be giving up the most assets, but they would also be getting a lot of useful players for their roster. They would get the opportunity to restructure their team around Jayson Tatum, and perhaps get back to being one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
The Indiana Pacers Get A Trade Package For Their Rebuild
The Indiana Pacers have been a fairly bad team this season, and it is clear that they should rebuild and try to get a high pick for the lottery. This trade would let them move two veterans in Myles Turner and T. J. Warren while getting a big trade package in return.
The focus trade return for the Indiana Pacers would obviously be young center Robert Williams and defensive wing Matisse Thybulle. Robert Williams is currently putting up 9.7 PPG and 8.9 RPG while shooting 74.4% from the field. He is a solid defensive big man, though he is undersized. Williams could potentially thrive next to Domantas Sabonis, as he would be able to cover for Sabonis’ on the defensive end in terms of rim protection, while Sabonis would provide size and rebounding. Matisse Thybulle is well-known for his perimeter defense, and if the Indiana Pacers are able to develop his jump shot, he will become a great 3 and D player.
The Indiana Pacers would also be getting Marcus Smart’s contract. He is someone that could potentially be flipped later on in another trade. If he stays on the Pacers though, he could be a player that is a culture-setter and he is a solid defender in his own right. Aaron Nesmith is someone that was viewed as a good shooter going into the league, and while he hasn’t been great, perhaps he could be a valuable piece if he develops. The 76ers and the Celtics would also both include picks to get this deal over the top.
Overall, the Indiana Pacers would give Myles Turner and T. J. Warren the opportunity to get a change of scene while building for the future themselves. It seems like a win-win proposition for both the franchise and the players.
