It’s not a secret that Ben Simmons will likely be moved before the start of the 2021/22 NBA season. The 3-time All-Star has yet to show up for training camp, and things are not right in Philadelphia. It seems like the duo of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons will not be the key to delivering a championship to the City of Brotherly Love.
- Philadelphia Gets Shooting Around Joel Embiid, Including A Potential All-Star In Collin Sexton
- Things Start Looking Bright In Cleveland With Young Stars
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Philadelphia may have to accept the next best available offer because they could be in a desperate position at this moment. Simmons has played very well for Philadelphia over the past few regular seasons, but his inability to shoot the ball is detrimental to his team’s success in the postseasons. Luckily for the 76ers, there could be a very strong offer on the table courtesy of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Trade Package: Collin Sexton, Kevin Love, Dylan Windler, 2022 First-Round Pick, 2023 First-Round Pick, 2025 Second-Round Pick
Philadelphia Gets Shooting Around Joel Embiid, Including A Potential All-Star In Collin Sexton
It is a bit sad to see how the Ben Simmons drama has dominated Philadelphia’s offseason up to this point. The 76ers were supposed to be competing for titles for the foreseeable future because Joel Embiid is truly one of the best players in the game. The big man averaged 28.5 PPG and 10.6 RPG last season and was top-3 in the MVP race all season long. Ben Simmons was also solid, posting 14.3 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 6.9 APG while finishing runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year. But Simmons was a disaster in the playoffs, averaging only 34.2% from the free-throw line and not making a single three-pointer.
By negotiating a blockbuster deal with the Cavaliers, Philadelphia acquires Collin Sexton, a sharpshooting guard who averaged 24.3 PPG last season. Sexton is a much more explosive offensive player than Simmons and is only 22 years of age, meaning the championship window for Philadelphia is open for at least the next 7 years. At 33 years old, Kevin Love is not the same player he used to be but provides shooting alongside Joel Embiid (career 37.0% 3-PT FG) and a rebounding presence. The picks also give the 76ers some flexibility in making trades for more stars who can help them win now, while Windler adds some shooting to the bench. The 76ers might be desperate as the new season approaches, and Cleveland’s package is not a bad return at all.
Things Start Looking Bright In Cleveland With Young Stars
The Cavaliers had no choice but to draft Evan Mobley with the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft because Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green were both taken. Signing Jarrett Allen to a $100 million contract was strange, but their roster is young with tons of potential nonetheless. With Darius Garland looking to become their star for the future as well, Ben Simmons is a perfect fit for this team. Simmons is only 25 years old and can play point guard or point-forward for the Cavaliers to help Garland with ball-handling responsibilities.
Cleveland’s defense with Mobley, Allen, Simmons, and even Isaac Okoro would soon become one of the best in the league. The Cavaliers might want to stop being pushovers in the East and acquiring a 3-time All-Star and 2-time All-Defensive player in Simmons places them back on the map as a potential playoff team. There will never be another LeBron James to carry the Cavaliers again. Now, Ben Simmons might be the next best thing for them because of his unique skill set and versatility as an oversized playmaker.
