The Philadelphia 76ers are considering offering Ben Simmons a five-year $200 million dollar contract extension because of the market demand for his play, but there is already major concern on how this would impact team chemistry.
The “where is ben simmons from” is a question that has been on the minds of Kings fans for quite some time. The answer to this question would be simple: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However, the organization has been historically inept in their decision making and have made no progress since drafting Ben Simmons in 2016.
The Sacramento Kings are reportedly interested in completing a blockbuster deal for Ben Simmons before the February deadline, according to the latest NBA trade rumors. A fresh twist in Sacramento’s interest, on the other hand, poses a major danger to the organization’s survival.
Tobias Harris is allegedly wanted by the Philadelphia 76ers as part of a Simmons trade. Few clubs have the contracts to send the other way while absorbing the wages of Harris and Simmons. The Kings are one such team that has such talents, yet doing so may result in a massive blunder that would define the reasons why Sacramento has not reached the playoffs since 2006.
NBA trade rumors: The Kings are allegedly interested in acquiring Tobias Harris in exchange for Ben Simmons.
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The Kings seem to be putting up a serious effort to make a Ben Simmons deal happen.
Sacramento has been rumored to be interested in Simmons for months. However, it currently looks like the Kings may agree to the 76ers’ wish to include Tobias Harris in any Simmons deal.
The Athletic’s Sam Amick said that the Kings are “more serious” in trading for both Harris and Simmons. He mentioned Sacramento executive Monte McNair and Sixers president Daryl Morey, who formerly worked together in Houston. Amick also said that the Kings’ ownership has a feeling of urgency and a “collective lack of trust” in the present lineup.
With all of these variables at play, why not strike a big deal to spice things up? The Kings have a possible cornerstone in De’Aaron Fox, whom they want to dangle in some way, that they may send to the 76ers. To match wages, Sacramento may include Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes in the deal.
The problem is that the 76ers are nearly likely to ask for more money.
The 76ers will almost certainly attempt to wrest crucial future assets from Sacramento.
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So, the 76ers may not be interested in Swipa if the Kings make him the cornerstone of a Ben Simmons deal.
Fox is a very skilled attacking player. Despite this, he only shoots 31.5 percent from beyond the arc in his career and often gets buried on defensive ball screens. The Sixers could theoretically move away from Fox and construct their own package centered on second-year Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Philadelphia is 12th in 3-point percentage, but 27th in 3-point attempts per game. The 76ers also need playmaking, as they currently rank 22nd in terms of assists. Haliburton may be able to provide both.
After entering health and safety procedures in mid-December, the former Iowa State product took on greater responsibility on the field. Haliburton averaged 16.6 points, 9.2 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in his past 14 games. On 5.4 tries, he shot 46.1 percent from distance. Furthermore, the 21-year-old has the size and instincts to be a top perimeter defender. This season, he’s averaging 1.7 steals per game.
Haliburton would be a better match for the Sixers’ backcourt needs, and he’d be significantly less expensive than Fox, who is still on a rookie deal. In addition to draft money, Philly could ask for Hali, Hield, Barnes, and Tristan Thompson’s expiring deal – he’d provide the 76ers with much-needed rebounding.
For the Kings, such a transaction would be terrible.
If the Kings aren’t cautious, acquiring Simmons might put them back years.
On February 9, 2021, Ben Simmons shoots over Glenn Robinson III during an NBA game | Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
The Sacramento Kings’ early-season termination of head coach Luke Walton served as a stark reminder of the organization’s many blunders over the last 15 years. Giving up too much in order to get Ben Simmons might prove to be yet another problematic choice.
Simmons is an NBA All-Star. He’s the game’s top perimeter defender. Is he, though, the kind of talent who can help a struggling Kings franchise? That seemed dubious at best. No matter which backcourt player Sacramento sends the other way, adding Simmons would raise doubts about fit.
If the Kings traded Haliburton, they’d have to play two guards who can’t shoot and replace one perimeter-oriented forward (Barnes) with Harris, who is a better mid-range scorer. There would be no space at all.
Alternatively, teaming Simmons and Haliburton may take the ball away from the rookie guard, which would seem counterproductive given his success as Sacramento’s main ball-handler and facilitator. The Kings are already having trouble developing young players, and they can’t afford to put Haliburton’s development on hold.
It’s seldom easy to tell if NBA trade rumors are true. Perhaps the Kings are just doing their homework. In any case, they should avoid attempting to smash a home run with a Simmons blockbuster, which is just as likely to be a massive swing-and-miss now and in the future.
Without bundling all of Fox, Hield, and Barnes, Sacramento can still get a terrific deal. The Kings should look at other options for acquiring assets.
Basketball Reference provided the statistics.
De’Aaron Fox Admits to Considering a Trade When He’s Not on the Basketball Court
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