Report: Sixers Will Act on Ben Simmons Trade By Trade Deadline; 2 Top Trade Options

 

The Ben Simmons saga continues to hang like a cloud over this Philadelphia 76ers season, as the team hovers in and around Play-In territory in the Eastern Conference. Team president Daryl Morey's refusal thus far to trade Simmons for anything less than a "difference-maker" should come to a head within the next six weeks. 

The trade deadline is February 10th, and John Hollinger of The Athletic reports that "the consensus opinion around the league remains that Philadelphia is more likely to act at the trade deadline than carry this all the way through ’til next summer, so as to avoid punting on a year of Joel Embiid’s prime."

The Sixers reportedly have a list of players they'd accept in a trade for their disgruntled point guard, but one wonders if they might expand that list a bit come the trade deadline, if it means giving the team a decent chance to make some noise in the playoffs. 

Embiid is having another monster year for Philly, averaging 26 points, 10.9 rebounds and a career-high 4.1 assists, but everyone knows his health is always an issue, and, as Hollinger notes, there's only so much time for the Sixers to capitalize on these prime years. 

Hollinger notes 2 top trade options the Sixers should look at:

1. Getting the Celtics to part with Jaylen Brown. Brown and Celtics' recent performance has hit some new lows this week, and perhaps they might finally be ready to break up the Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown pairing. 

2. A deal with the Indiana Pacers, who are in re-tooling mode. Hollinger suggests a trade that could bring Domantas Sabonis and Chris Duarte to Philly for Simmons, along with other spare parts going either way. 

Simmons would be surrounded with shooters in Indy, but there are a couple of problems with this one: The Sabonis-Embiid pairing could be an odd fit; and would the rebuilding Pacers be anxious to give up their impressive rookie?

Before it's all said and done, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers and Cleveland Cavaliers are all still hanging around, hoping to pry Simmons loose as well. 

This could be one explosive trade deadline in the NBA. 

Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports