The Warriors have been mentioned as a possible destination for the Sixers to send Ben Simmons, but the teams haven’t engaged in serious trade talks, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
Sources tell Slater that their discussions on Simmons have been limited to a single phone call before the draft in which Philadelphia president of basketball operations Daryl Morey asked for Andrew Wiggins, James Wiseman, Golden State’s two picks in this year’s lottery, and a pair of future first-rounders. The Warriors’ front office declined the offer and no further negotiations took place.
Golden State could still get involved if Morey lowers his asking price, but Slater doesn’t expect Simmons to wind up in San Francisco. He points out concerns about how effective a lineup with Simmons and Draymond Green would be when neither is an effective shooter and notes that the Warriors aren’t desperate to make a move. They have 14 players on guaranteed or partially guaranteed contracts, and it’s assumed throughout the organization that those 14 will make up the opening-night roster. The team isn’t making any trade calls and doesn’t plan to seek any deals before the season begins, sources tell Slater.
In addition, owner Joe Lacob is a strong supporter of both Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga and would be reluctant to part with either player, Slater adds. Morey would likely ask for at least one of them in return for Simmons, which would be a tough sell for Lacob. Slater sees the Warriors’ best offer as Wiggins and future picks, and he believes the Sixers will have better options.
There’s more news related to Simmons:
- The Timberwolves and Raptors have been linked to Simmons most frequently over the summer, Derek Bodner states in an Athletic roundtable on a potential deal. He believes the Cavaliers could be a “wild card” as well and notes that the Sixers’ options improve if a multi-team deal can be worked out. Sam Amick points out that the Wolves – with president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas – and the Kings – with general manager Monte McNair – both have executives who worked closely with Morey during his time in Houston.
- Confirming a Wednesday night report from Amick, Jason Jones of The Athletic writes in a mailbag column that the Kings aren’t willing to part with De’Aaron Fox or Tyrese Haliburton to acquire Simmons. He’s skeptical that the Sixers would be interested in an offer of Buddy Hield and Marvin Bagley, who are both below-average defensive players.
- John Gonzalez of The Ringer looks at the role that Simmons’ uneasy relationship with Philadelphia fans has played in his desire to leave the team.
I guess Philly could do what HOU did with Harden, but this relationship seems worse already. I could see someone like the Kings, CAVs or Pistons being aggressive, I think any other team would low ball for Simmons at this point. The deal Morrey wants doesn’t exist.
Asking price is for comparison
For Cavs trade package starting point
Who replaces Wiseman?
Who replaces Kuminga?
Who replaces Moody?
Sexton has little value for 76ers
Someone will offer more money next year
Nobody replaces any of them for the Cavs since they all play for GSW.
The point that the FA market is now devoid of rotation players is part of the reason its so much harder to do a deal now then around the draft.
Also the package 6ers asked the Warriors for now needs about 50M in salary matching . Draft picks now have salaries where they didnt before.
Simmons 31 million
Warriors $26 million for 5 young players
Within 125% rule
Salary matching
The ask was Wiggins plus 3 who make a combined 50M.
I would do Wise, Moody, Looney, and Mulder plus one protected first. If the numbers worked.
Add Marquees Chriss and Colison to fill out the rotation.
I wouldnt hate a starting 5 of
1 Steph
2 Klay
3 Wiggins
4 Dray
5 Simmons
You could have that be your long small ball lineup.
You then have enough shooting, great defense with multiple point of attack and star big stoppers, long enough to get boards, and are unreal in transition.
The whole problem with a trade with GSW is they would rather keep Wiggins and add Simmons, but cant build a package that works salary wise that a win now team like 76ers want. They want win now players so if they dont think Wiggins is that then there is no deal. I dont see a 3rd team out there with a player who the 6ers would want that wants a GSW package of only future value players.
Just a guess, but I think GSW would basically say we will give you Wiggins and future picks, or young players, but not both.
Nah if Philly called tomorrow and asked for Wigs and Wiseman and even a first for Simmons, GSW does it. A Steph/Klay/Porter/Ben/Dray lineup is top 5. Steph/Baze/Wigs/Dray/Loon was Top10 and this one is better. Think of Ben as a 6’10 Iggy if you must-but better playmaking and defense.
It would be worth trading with Portland perhaps as Philly doesn’t need Wiseman, and if GSW gets a RoCo type it makes it even easier as Porter is a risk.
I’d almost prefer to involve Detroit and try for Saddiq Bey, but then the argument comes to what’s better: Steph/Klay/Wigs/Bey/Dray or Steph/Klay/Bey/Ben/Dray?
There’s no better duo to throw at Bron and AD than Ben and Draymond and Ben is 2 years younger than Wiggins. Ben+Poole would be crazy. Bjelicia is a good shooter too, someone Philly shouldve nabbed years ago.
Kyle Anderson would work well if we got Ben too.
But Wiggins is a top 75-100 player. If Ben doesn’t get better, he’s still a top 20-25 player. He’s a perennial all star. I think he’s much better in an environment where he’s not expected to be the Guy with Embiid. In GSW he’d be “another guy” after Steph and Klay.
You’re right in that the ideal scenario is that GSW would much prefer to add a 3&D wing if they’re playing Ben and Dray, but Ben fills their shot creation and size/rebounding needs immediately and for the near future. Why even bother with Wiseman as hell never be the passer Zaza/Bogut were, and never be half the passer Ben is.
It’s an interesting thought experiment. It’s unlikely as every trade is, but I’d rather have Ben than Beal or Siakam just because he does all the other stuff so much better than they do. Scoring is the problem and it’s not like we needed scorers last year, we needed competent NBA level ball handlers and smart basketball players. Think of Ben as a bigger/better Shaun Livingston.
@Sillivan
Yeah a young SG who averaged 24 ppg on 47/37/81 would be of no interest to Philly. Oh wait, but they are interested in Dame, CJ, e.t.c.
Newsflash only Sexton, Dame, Curry, Kyrie, Lavine, Rozier, Brogdon, CJ and SGA are the only guards that slashed at least 45+/37+/80+ and 20ppg last year. And guess what, most of those guards aren’t great defenders either. Get past the lack of AS by his name. The Sixers should want a kid like Sexton to play alongside Embid for the next 5 years. Hopefully, the Cavs will pass on Simmons. It would make more sense to send Garland to Philly instead. Obviously it’s not going to happen. Im just saying.
Atlanta could put together an exceptional package (Galo, the kid from Virginia, and Lemon Pepper Lou) and get Simmons and Maxey in return.
Or Simmons and Maxey to Portland for McCollum and Covington.
Those would be beneficial to both teams and wouldn’t be too complicated.
I’m not a Sixers or Simmons fan, but his value hasn’t diminished that much. They’re not trading him AND Maxey for a bunch of mediocre bench guys.
How would this benefit Philly? Portland could put out a good starting 5…but who plays PG for Philly? You gave away Ben and Maxey? Is shake our starting PG? Or is McCallum our new PG? McCallum and Curry together? Who plays d against our opposition backcourts? Tobias and Covington are not very playable at the same time as neither one really guards 3 (a younger RoCo but not this version).
Pg Milton/Curry/springer
Sg CJ/Thybulle/Joe
C Joel/Drummond
PF Tobias/RoCo/Niang/ b ball Paul
Sf green/Kork/ ahh why keep on
We have no primary ball handler and in Maxey maybe lost our secondary one as well. We have no facilitator. No defensive stopper outside of Thybulle? No one to match up on D with Durant lebron the freak etc.
I don’t like the Brogdon trade rumors earlier…but man that looks good comparatively compared to this. CJ for Tobias could improve both teams but not this.
Asking price
Wiseman Kuminga Moody and two Firsts
Kings offer
Overpaid Hield and Bagley
Who has “crazy demand”?
Wise, Kuminga, Moody =19M
Simmons = 31.5
No other player on GSW makes more than 5M or less than 24M. This is why it has to be Wiggins which GSW value as a borderline all star based on age and performance this season. They dont consider Wiggins salary filler or a negative, and there is no other way to make the money work…….
Also if Phil is sending out a 1 for 5 with players on contracts they need to waive 4 to finalize the trade.
NOBODY HAS OPEN ROSTER SPOTS FOR BIG TRADES AND NO PLAYERS ARE LEFT TO FILL OUTGOING PLAYERS SPOTS IN FA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Simmons is getting dealt for peanuts or at the deadline since they already let every potential partner make all the offseason moves.
@Jumpshot
No offense but there’s little thought to fit with most of these trades. Portland needs more offense, not less. They need someone to ADD to Dame and CJ not replace. Unless you’re getting an offensive upgrade to CJ then the team is worse off, Simmons defense notwithstanding. That trade puts more pressure on Dame to carry the load and adding Simmons will hurt either or. It either takes the ball out of Dame’s hands or minimizes 1 of the 2 attributes Simmons has. And while defense does help win games it isn’t as important than adding another scoring option to compliment Dame, open the floor and lessen the workload for Dame. he
Counter argument. POR has scored like crazy for several seasons while playing absolute bottom of the league defense. They have scoring and need stops.
@Chapmans
Valid. Counter argument. The point differential between what they scored in this past playoff run (119ppg ranked #1) vs what they allowed (120 ppg ranked 13th) was a minuscule differential of less than 1 point. While a better defense would help overall his defense wouldn’t prevent as many points as he would cost taking the ball out of Dame’s hands plus his lack of offensive contributions. He just doesn’t compliment a Portland team minus CK or a similar perimeter 20ppg shooter. Plus if you can’t leave Simmons in the game in thr 4th quarter of a playoff game because he’s not going to shoot and can’t hit FTs then he won’t be on the floor for his defensive contributions to be felt.
Simmons would look good next to Ant and KAT. That’s a legitimate big-3. Yikes
Yeah that looks great for Minnesota but Philly wouldn’t gain a thing. I wouldn’t even trade Ben for D Lo and Ant. But without both you can’t even get Morey (or any competent gm) to talk.
Bro as a Sixers fan I would be ecstatic with Russell and Ant. Edwards is a stud in the making and D-Lo is a more-than-capable PG
DLo is so so slow with the ball in his hands. Dude just plays really slow feeling on offense, and he makes zero effort on D. Watching him play D till GSW shipped him was painful. There were times I thought Dray was just going to lay him out after some possessions.
If I’m the sixers I keep him until the packages improve. Simmons can talk about not showing up but once those checks don’t come in he might change his mind. He signed the 4yr deal at 30mil a year
Ok,
But be prepared for how bad the press will be on the eventual trade, Simmons causing issues with the team, Embiid getting frustrated and requesting either he or Simmons goes, and dumping Simmons for much less bc of strife in the lockerroom.
Players have the leverage, Philly will not fine Simmons, then Agents will tell FAs to stay away from Philly
Leverage? Did u not watch the playoffs. He was so bad that’s why the trade packages suck. Also sixers haven’t been a FA destinations for a long time(the last big ticket FA might be Elton Brand coming off injury from the Clippers). So your post doesn’t really hold water. Sixers will be wise to hold onto him and see if he can rebuild his stock or they can mend the fence so to speak.
Simmons definitely has leverage in this situation. By him holding out, he not only ties up a significant amount of cap space but also significantly reduces the 76ers chances of competing for a title. Having a guaranteed 4yrs/$120MM contract is all the leverage he needs to force Morey’s hand.
Disagree. If he was playing well at the end of the year sure he would have leverage. But he needs to be on the court showing the sixers/other teams he has improved his game. The last thing the league seen of Simmons was him passing up a dunk vs the hawks game 7. It’s not the sixers job to give in to Simmons because he didn’t put the work in to improve his game.
@bpecore
If he holds out, he loses money not to mention, looks bad.
Not even the press man. The Philly fans are notorious @ssholesss who are merciless. You really think he can play games at home and keep his composure? We’re going to see Simmons booing the fans back like Baez in NY.
The league values Ben more than fans and media. I still think (hope) he plays in Philly this year, but even if not the package will be better than this junk
Agree. Sixers FO brings in Morey. No way can Morey just trade him to trade him because he is upset he didn’t put the work in to get better.
You trade him because its broken and you have no other choice. He wont show up, and if he does it will cause problems. 6ers have to move him, and have zero good options. Every other team knows the position they are in and most offers got cut in half since they were made. Value is determined by what someone will pay not a vacuum so if they lose leverage the offers get worse.
Take it or leave it Morey cause you have 2 bad options. 1 getting a tiny return compared to 12 months ago. 2 roll it back and live with all the problems both for the roster and chemistry that bring. Thats it and every other GM knows it.
I dunno, he’s a really odd case. Most max salary guys teams try to dump are past their prime dudes who get added to mega teams for a one or two year run. Simmons is young and a weird combination of skills and weaknesses. I don’t know if there is a comp other than AD and the Lakers, who returned a bunch of young guys with some ceiling but nothing proven. AD is a much better asset than Simmons. No one has the cap space to add Simmons without a major player sent the other way. Hield and Bagley and a draft pick is about the sweet spot, I’d say. That’s not a fair trade (Simmons is better than that) but given the leverage the Sixers have (none, literally, and if you think they’re gonna just move on and let him stew at home this season, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you) that’s gonna be it.
@phillyphan69
they might value him more than fans but do they value him@ $30 mil plus having to give up pieces they would have to part with for nba salary matching purposes? if you’re a contender you likely don’t want to swap stars.
lol teams who can trade for him arent desperate for a guy who cant shoot. people think Simmons is KD or something. Philly will be a playoff knockout again until they stop asking for the moon
Remember
A pretty lady said this before the draft day.
Warriors are not trading the first round picks. They are the future
I truly hope the Cavs can resist their natural instincts to mess things up. Yes they could use a big guard that plays defense. Most would assume the deal would be centered around Sexton (who I truly think we need to keep) but wouldn’t it make more sense to move Garland since he’s the true point guard of the team? Simmons would compliment Sexton more than Garland. Only way I would want Simmons is if it didn’t involve Sexland combo nor Mobley and they play Simmons as a point forward. I can’t see Sixers buying into that unless Allen can be traded too in a 4 team deal sending someone good to Philly.
Kuminga is now 225 pounds and 6’8”
He can play both SF and PF
Moody can play both PG and SG
Add Wiseman
That is a future team
They are solid players, but if you want to go to rebuild route then you have to trade 2 if not all of all star trios. Soon or later W’s will go below luxury tax.
They’re not rebuilding and reading trip stars. They’re wanting to balance rebuild for future AND be competitive now.
Owner has said multiple times he wants to be like the Spurs in that he wants long-sustained success.
They’re doing it the right way. But they do need maybe one more piece to be better now.
Best FA this season for GSW is Klay. Him plus any jump from any of the kids puts them at the top tier of the West as long as Steph is healthy.
yeah not GSW fan but they are doing a great job building a team. they should keep all their pieces and see how it works
This is all speculation until Dame speaks. If he wants out of Portland every changes.
Dame has spoke…twice…he appears content in Portland at the minute
I mean I really think the Blazers made lateral moves in FA, but he appears to want to see what they have. I do think he may realize they just ran it back by midseason.
Yes exactly Chapman. Dame will want out by the trading deadline and perhaps that’s what the Sixers are waiting for. They may Gamble and hold on to Simmons until then.
Big gamble but they might do it. No sense trading Simmons now for a pile of mediocre from the Kings or Warriors or whoever…
Morey’s asking price is insanely unrealistic.
That’s crazy he asked for that from the warriors.
You have to narrow teams down to a team that has multiple legit PGs/ballhandlers to give and able to add in first rounders.
Sixers are looking for that as they are ready to compete now in Embids prime, plus an upside player in draft pick
Blazers have CJ
Celtics have Smart
Hornets have Rozier
Kings have Halliburton
Knicks have Quickley
Timberwolves have DLo
Cavs Rubio/Sexton/Garland (any of them)
Unlikely but if they wanted to retool their team:
Pacers have Brogdon
Spurs have Murray
Raptors have Vanvleet
BEST FOR FUN
Magic have fultz lol
I don’t see any other team not listed begin in involved.
I think the Celtics would be intriguing frontline of simmons, brown, and tatum. That would just be scary.
Hornets would be fun to see Lamelo and Simmons fast break, if they can keep Hayward.
Best fit? Any missed?
I don’t like the swap from the Philly perspective, but the Mavs have Porzingis
Look, Moody and Kuminga are like 3 years ahead of Wiseman, Wiseman literally is the odd man out here, and combined with Steph+Klay+Dray, Lacobs bizarre preoccupation with rebuilding while he has a current MVP and DPOY finalist is just the worst.
You trade Wiseman for the known all-star entity here. Simmons on GSW would end like Magic Johnson. Yeah his shot hasnt worked…on Phily. Ever noticed how that team was all bark and no bite on “the process”? They kinda dont really know what theyre doing over there, perhaps better coaching+proximity to Curry can fix Ben’s shot.
W’s are just trying to get Sixers to lower the price… W’s has to pretend that we are not the one who are desperate. It’s the Sixers, Morey, Simmons, Rich Paul. They have to make it work… W’s will sit tight, play tough to get, and grab Simmons when price is right. Summons will be an amazing addition for W’s.
The price would need to drop to Wiggins and a future draft pick. Simmons will go else where before that deal happens.
How about Wiggins, Green, 1 of wiseman, moody, kuminga, and 2 future 1st!
@Michol
Supreme overpay. I wouldn’t trade Green for Simmons straight up. But the money doesn’t match either.
There is no posturing. They like the young players. Already built the roster around the team they have, and dont want to fill spots out of the zero rotation FA left. The fit is a real concern as well. If it falls in their lap they will take it, but the team would go all in for someone like Giannis not Ben Simmons. They like Simmons if it works on their terms, but those arent terms Philly will like.
Wiseman has not played very much in 2 years. He will need another year before his value is what it should be. Warriors are set for the year but 1 more back up for Curry.
Marty you’r so so wrong so much of the time.
1A You cant trade Wiseman for Simmons the salaries dont add up…….. DUH! How do this many NBA fans not understand salary matching…… or is this an American education problem where you cant do the math between Simmons max deal and Wisemans 9M?
2 Wiseman had no camp, no summer league, covid, multiple injuries before the knee, and still put up 10 and 6 with games where he looked downright dominant. For a 19 year old C he looked fantastic. Also news flash your way way more likely to see Wiseman making meaningful contributions this season then Kuminga who will develop in garbage time. Wiseman was miss used and young yet still improved and was starting to look really good right before he got hurt running more pick and roll. Dont be shocked if Wiseman contribute more than Moody this season. Second year big where the team has little depth, or the 19 year old wing that shares a position with every rotation vet on the team almost. We have 2 centers and 7 wings who plays more and contributes Wiseman or the other guys.
For real the Wiseman hate is so unbelievably dumb. Did you really think a 19 year old with 3 college games was going to be Joker in the first year. Get your expectations in order and you wont be disappointed by a teenager avg 11/5.5. His numbers beat so many HOF C at the same age.
Chapman, any deal for Ben Simmons must include Andrew Wiggins. That’s how the salaries would match up. We’re all just talking about Wiggins plus who.
Everybody on every basketball website in the entire universe knows Andrew Wiggins must be included. Marty knows it, I know it, and you know it. The Warriors can’t bring in an ADDITIONAL 30 MILLION DOLLARS !!! …that would be like 200 million if you’ve been paying attention. That’d be like 500 million in just tax alone for one season. I’m exaggerating but it’s a lot of money.
Simmons comes in, Wiggins goes out. There’s no two ways about it.., there’s no getting around it. Does he go to a 3rd team? Sure, but you don’t bring in Simmons without sending out Andrew Wiggins. My goodness.
Salaries don’t match AND Why would the sixers want wiseman? Only to flip him? But they’re looking to be at the top of the eastern conference NOW with embiid at his prime.
When you’re delusional, u can ask for what ever you want in return in a trade of Simmons. That said, until he gets help, Simmons stays in Philly
When you ask for that dumb of proposals though everyone laughs, hangs up, and moves on. Nobody negotiated because the ask was insane, and they all went other directions. Trying to get teams to circle back now, when they know your looking to get bailed out of a bad situation, will inevitably lead to a dump or nothing.
hopefully… they dump him on the Wolves!
Most GM’s aren’t dumb enough to get close to Morey’s asking price. Until that changes drastically nobody is biting. Between his salary and complete lack of a jumper, there’s really not a lot of deals or teams that make sense.
Simmons is not a a player you can build a team around.. sorry Morey, he’s not a James Harden.
No team is going to leverage their future for a player that doesn’t shoot.
Is Simmons good, yes he is.. but he’s a role player, nothing more. He’s now proving he’s also a headache. Sixers fans and media can say all they want, his value is diminishing.
They should have taken the pacers deal, they would have come out smelling like roses. But morey is greedy.
They should offer Simmons for sexton and a top 3 protected draft pick from Cleveland.
If Dame does leave Portland, there’s many teams that can outbid a Simmons deal. It’s not going to happen.
Is there a team (a good one anyway) that was built around James Harden?
The 2017-2018 Rockets were pretty damn good. They won 65 games and probably win the championship if not for the cheat code Warriors/Chris Paul’s injury. I’m not a big Rockets fan but acting like there weren’t some really good teams built around Harden is silly.
GSW wins 5 straight without some injuries too…..
KD stays cause you cant not go for a 6th and 7th. I mean we can all dream up scenarios that never happened.
I’m not saying they definitely would have won. All I’m saying is that Rockets team was really good, a legit contender, and built around Harden.
For Ben Simmons to have shown no improvement since year 1, it makes me question how much he loves the game.
How a pg/point forward can’t improve his free throw shooting (let alone a jump shot) is so shameful. How your primary ball handler can’t have the ball in his hands in crunch time is mind boggling. He’s a totally overvalued asset.
lol Philly thinks they have prime KD to ask for absurb returns
GSW needs to stop trying to dangle Wigs out to teams… I mean right now Kuminga hasn’t even played a single minute in the NBA but he already should be the starting forward as he is proven to be better than Wiggs, as I said without even playing a minute, that shows what a superstar Kuminga is gonna be & how bad Wigs is!!!
@ElDon
What world do we live in where you can suggest that a unproven teen who played in the G League with a 1 year slash line of 38%/24%/62% is better than a proven vet who had a good year at 48%/38%/71% is crazy. I think ppl look at Wiggins and judge his career based off of what the expectations of him were on draft day. Ok… he’s not baby Jordan, but he’s grown into a good NBA player. Kuminga is the definition of unproven and GSW MIGHT trade him for a better piece HOPING Kuminga would eventually fill the gap but I promise you they wouldn’t assume so and Kuminga hasn’t earned anything.
Dude tell me where you get your weed!
Also its always Wiggins because other than Steph/Klay/Dray nobody makes over 10M and in the NBA salary matching is a thing. He is the only option to keep the 3 and make any trade work DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Wonder if Nuggets might put up an offer. They could really use Simmons’ defense, and he and Jokic might make a lethal passing combination. He could shift to SF (but still guard on the perimeter) when Murray comes back.
They won’t offer MPJ, which is who the Sixers would want, but Gordon and Morris gets them in the right range salary match-wise. With a pick or a young player it might work.
Like your thinking but would wonder about Simmons’ mindset at this point. The line-up you write of, with Murray running the show, would be tremendous. But there’s the rub. Would Simmons buy in to what is essentially equate to a position switch. Let’s face it, the guy is no point guard. He’s no guard at all, really
Morey is a hasbeen . He’s clueless. My analytics says he sucks. I love Kuminga. I’m probably his biggest supporter here. But I give him up for Ben.
Wiggins, Kuminga, two future #1 picks.
This works for both teams. Ben has to play next to Dre at SF. Warriors are one team who Definitely make Ben a better shooter. Fact is he only needs to be a 75% or better FT shooter. Forget the 3s but you have to make FTs. Have to. Steph n Klay will get him right.
Simmons fits best with MIN because he would not need to shoot. At all. They have shooters all over the place.
They NEED his defense. They would like to have his playmaking in the frontcourt, but really just need him to lock down certain opponents. He would fit GREAT in MIN!
But, can Rosas get it done??