Given how frequently the Cavaliers have been linked to Ben Simmons during the past few months, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com contemplates what it might take for the Cavs to acquire Simmons — and whether they should.
Fedor notes that the Cavaliers, as currently constructed, aren’t an ideal fit for a player with Simmons’ skill set, because they lack the shooters necessary to open the floor for his open-court driving and passing. So even if they did acquire him, they would almost certainly have to make more moves in order to build the team around him.
Fedor speculates that a package of Kevin Love, Collin Sexton, and a pair of protected first-round picks might not entice the 76ers more than other offers they’ve received, or ones they could receive in the weeks ahead. He also adds that while the Cavs have no “untouchables” on the roster, rookie Evan Mobley and improving point guard Darius Garland are the closest bets, and are considered very unlikely to be moved.
Fedor says that there are ultimately more questions than answers to the issue of whether the Cavs should go all-in for Simmons, adding that the team should be patient in its approach to see if the 76ers’ asking price might lessen over time. The article is worth checking out in full.
There’s more from the Central division:
- The Bucks recently held a free-agent minicamp for their last remaining training camp spot, per our JD Shaw (Twitter link). Former NBA players Allonzo Trier, Antonio Blakeney, Chris McCullough and Josh Gray were among the participants. The Bucks currently only have 13 players with fully guaranteed contracts, so winning a training camp battle could very well be a viable pathway to making the team.
- The Bucks‘ G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, recently named Chaisson Allen as their new head coach. Allen was a highly regarded college player for Northeastern and spent five seasons playing internationally. He spent last season as an assistant for the Long Island Nets. In the same press release, the Herd also announced that Tony Bollier will serve as the team’s general manager and Arte Culver will be the new assistant general manager.
- Keith Langlois of Pistons.com explores what the Pistons should do with their open roster spot. The team currently has 14 players under guaranteed contracts after acquiring and buying out DeAndre Jordan. Langlois posits the team could convert Luka Garza from a two-way contract to the main 15-man roster, though the plan is for him to spend significant time in the G league. Langlois notes that converting Garza would free up a two-way spot for summer league standout Jamorko Pickett, who’s currently on an Exhibit 10 deal. Langlois also says the team could keep the spot open for maximum roster flexibility, perhaps adding a 15th man later in the season.
At this point last year the Cavs said that Porter was their one “untouchable” player.
Porter kind of helped himself out of Cleveland. Circumstances change if there is a negative effect on the club. Porter presented that and the Cavs took the initiative to move him. Me personally, I think Houston takes Simmons while Wall heads to Philly with compensation of draft picks and maybe a guy like Tate Jr included. Tate Jr and Wall will probably be the stepping stone unless a 3rd team comes in to balance it out a bit. Say Tate Jr to 3rd team Wall and draft picks with 3rd team player (potential second unit forward/center since Cavs are taking to big men) to Cleveland and Simmons and 2nd round pick to Houston.
This really isnt true but keep spouting
Porter was angry and voiced it in the locker room. I remember it to some degree. Something about his locker being moved and he was placed with the rookies. Something like that
In all honesty as a Sixers fan I’d take Sexton KLove, 2 firsts and some seconds
Cleveland are still going to suck with Simmons considering they would have no spacing with Garland Okoro Allen Rubio etc etc. Those picks would probably add value and it would probably be a backwards step for the Cavs.
As for us, Sexton is underrated. He’s a 20+ points per game scorer, that can space the floor, is efficient enough, and has potential defensively. He also has gotten better every season, is great in the clutch and would suit playing as a second/third option next to Embiid and Harris. KLove could either be traded, brought out or just kept for depth. If we keep him he atleast fills a gap at PF, adds spacing and experience.
I’d rather this than Buddy Heild and Bagley, or McCollum or Malik Beasley and bits
Why do you want to see us get worse? Rubio, Osman and Sexton would be a better deal…and still a pretty bad one lol but it would be an improvement
Nah I’d rather take Loves bad deal and picks than Rubio and osman.
As worse case situation KLove is atleast a back up PF that can stretch the floor, get rebounds, play minutes at the 5, brings some experience and stuff.
It’s very optimistic but KLove would actually have a little bit of a resurgence on a winning team. Back up minutes against bums and he can still hit jumpers and back down young guys.
Whereas Rubio would just take minutes away from Sexton, Maxey, Milton and co at the pin time guard spot. He’s good at facilitating but offers no spacing, not great defence and no championship experience or anything. Osman again doesnt so much for me. Atleast if we take Loves terrible contract it’ll get us more picks than smaller contract role players.
Dre Hunter, Okongwu, Gallo plus a 1st for Ben & Bassey is a much better deal than Collin, KLove, 2 1sts & 2 2nds.. Gallo is better & cheaper than Love plus his contract expires sooner. Hunter perfectly fills Philly’s hole at 2way wing/forward & complements JoJo & Tobi very well. Onyeka is a young beast w/ 3yrs left of team control. With this return they don’t suffer so much defensively as they would if they lost Ben & got Collin & Love back
Sexton is a direct replacement at point guard tho and averages something like 25-5-5 and shoots efficiently.
Hunter is good but would leave Maxey and Milton having to start as the point guards which is a big ask for a team with title aspirations. Gallo would be only a bench player behind Harris and Okungwu is often injured and haven’t seen enough from him. We also have Drummond as a back up centre and long term wise JoJo is obviously the centre.
Because in the KLove deal we are taking back a terrible deal we would want 3 firsts. Worse case we buy him out or he’s just a bench player. Best case he has a resurgence on a contending team and is somewhat useful.
Id probably take the Cavs deal if it’s with 3 firsts
Love Sexton and a 1st unprotected is about the best I see out there. But no way morey does it.
Absolutely no way cle gives an unprotected first
It’s very unlikely anyone gives up an unprotected first for Simmons.
The only way would be if it’s one of the contenders that takes him.
Yeah no s*** shirlock
And you didn’t give a year
I hope the Cavs can resist their nature of doing stupid things. I feel like they’re tempted to bring in an all-star player for credibility purposes. As good as Ben is, his lack of outside shooting minus the subtraction of Sexton’s offense makes this team terribly worse offensively but a smidge better defensively. He solves the small guard problem too but I’d rather let the kids ( Sexton, Garland, Mobley, Allen, Okoro) grow. Besides, any team that acquires Simmons acquires the same issues. His inability to shoot from more than 3ft from the basket (which crowds the paint for Mobley and Allen), his inability to hit FTs and his lack of aggressiveness with the ball in hand because he’s afraid the team will initiate hack-a-Ben. Seriously, he needs to go to a team that’s week in the paint but surrounded by shooters. A healthy Klay, Curry, a third shooter, Dray have been awesome to watch.
Regardless of the INcoming package they’d receive in a trade, do the Sixers really want to send Ben to a great situation… a “Final Four” team (on paper)????
Garland is a fine complement to Simmons, able to do PG duties but not needing the job like most guards want to control the ball. A good situation will put Simmons on his front foot, as least until losing looks fated. But, the Cavs would be better, so there’s the climb up to satisfy him. As for his shooting, who would even care for a few years anyway, playing on the Cavs. But a little domination goes a long way.
For Simmons & Paul Reed, I would trade Mobley and vets to match salaries, but no picks not lottery-protected. I doubt Maxey would be happy to be included.
I do expect a half-dozen Cavs to be solid (38%+) 3-pt shooters: Garland, Markkanen, Osman, Valentine, Love, Wade, and Sexton if present. Windler, Pangos, Mobley, Okoro will have other things to worry about.
@x%sure
Asinine. “Who would care about his shooting”? How about the team and the front office? Just because the Cavs have been pitiful post Lebron doesn’t mean they don’t want to do better. The Cavs, without LBJ, has been at least top 17 and top 11 last year. They want to compete. If the Cavs can resist on trading for his name then they’ll pass
in attendance that is.
Love Sexton and 2 picks?
Is that a joke?
If so it is a bad one
I hope they don’t but why the hate? because Sexton doesn’t have all-star on his resume? A 24 ppg efficient shooter that can score from anywhere isn’t anything to spit on. But I hope the Sixers don’t want him because I don’t want Simmons.
We know, dude, we know!
You spill your hate for the dude in every possible post you can, so we get it, he is the apple of your hate… for some totally unknown reason to anyone!
@ElDon
My goodness are you 12? I have no hate towards Ben. I don’t know the guy. But I don’t get all of these ppl displacing blame and lauding him as this all-star WITHOUT acknowledging that the very issue that’s effecting his relationship with the Sixers travel with him to the next destination. Ppl act as if it’s a small thing. I don’t care so much about him not shooting 3s. The guys shooting FG% dips below 40% once he moves more than 3ft away from the basket and is almost near 20% beyond 10ft. I don’t get how centers with the same limited offense set but are good rebounders and rim protectors are being demonized for getting paid but Simmons gets a pass because he has point guard abilities and perimeter defense instead of interior. Both are important. They’re are only a handful of teams that MIGHT be capable of minimizing his liabilities. Cavs aren’t one of them.
Blake net might sufficiently spell DiVincenzo for a while, good value pickup.
No Simmons in Cleveland!!! You don’t put an older, crappy, crazy, self centered, scared of shooting the ball and malcontent on a young team that has all the markings of an exciting year to come in 2021-22.
If there were a trade, we trade our crap for your crap. KLove for Simmons. Then ship Simmons to play in the China league. He’s God awful.