Marc Stein: Toronto has expressed interest in Ben Simmons

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

He's a C, nobody in their right mind will overpay for him at this point. You can't use him anywhere else and still win.

[JB7]

If the Raptors were to make a move for Ben, keeping shooters like FVV, GTG and OG is a must. Any team with Ben needs to surround him with shooters, to get the most out of his strengthens.

Siakam makes the most sense in terms of a swap. Toronto could even include Lowry in a S&T (since Philly will be pressed to spend/add, so Lowry will get his payout in the market he wants), and Toronto can add some future picks from Philly. Hill would probably need to come back as part of the Lowry S&T.

No way the 4th pick should even be considered in this deal. Bringing in Simmons is about setting the timelines back a bit to align with a new younger core (Simmons, OG, GTJ & 4th pick)

[GrizzledVet]

It’s a fair question, for me it’s about calculated risk and opportunity to get a potentially premium asset at a reasonable cost. The fit is questionable but I think the potential upside makes it worth talking about. Personally the most I’d pay is Lowry plus one of GTJ or Boucher. Our pick (and even future picks) plus OG and Pascal are off the table for me.
The reason I’d do it has to do with scarcity, it’s not like they’re are unlimited max slot guys and we can pick one. This the only chance I see to get a potential top 15 talent for a modest price.
I think a lineup with Simmons surrounded by OG, Siakam, FVV our pick and fillers could be dynamic and unique in the league. It’s a big risk but it’s a path to a high ceiling team.

[GordanFreeman]

Can’t understand why people want this to happen. Can only guess they didn’t watch him play in the playoffs.

I can only hope that our “interest” is just Masai kicking the tires to see if he can get the guy at a bargain basement price.

the smart ones know that having a lineup with FVV+OG+Ben+Pascal + C would put us at the VERY top defensively(one of the all-time great potentially)
We will never be able to compete offensively against the Brooklyns of this world. We need a different approach with a defensive juggernaut.

1 guy who can shoot off the dribble consistently... no thanks. Our offense would be maddening to watch. Barf, how can you even suggest such an anemic offensive lineup.

[Public_Enemy101]

A guy who can’t shoot jumpers. Passes the ball because he’s scared of the foul line. And... he’s paid big bucks. For what!? If Masai traded the 4th pick or any of our core pieces, then he should probably move on from this organization. That’s literally the definition of insanity.

[Quattro]

Can’t understand why people want this to happen. Can only guess they didn’t watch him play in the playoffs.

I can only hope that our “interest” is just Masai kicking the tires to see if he can get the guy at a bargain basement price.

the smart ones know that having a lineup with FVV+OG+Ben+Pascal + C would put us at the VERY top defensively(one of the all-time great potentially)
We will never be able to compete offensively against the Brooklyns of this world. We need a different approach with a defensive juggernaut.

Right. I’m not smart but you are when you think it’s a good idea to pay 29 million a year under a salary cap regime to a GUARD who can’t shoot, can’t make free throws and literally has to be benched during the playoffs.

If you’re acquiring Simmons it’s because you believe that fixing his shot isn’t a lost cause and that you think there’s still time to develop his shot to be at least serviceable not because of his defense.

[ash_k]

Can’t understand why people want this to happen. Can only guess they didn’t watch him play in the playoffs.

I can only hope that our “interest” is just Masai kicking the tires to see if he can get the guy at a bargain basement price.

the smart ones know that having a lineup with FVV+OG+Ben+Pascal + C would put us at the VERY top defensively(one of the all-time great potentially)
We will never be able to compete offensively against the Brooklyns of this world. We need a different approach with a defensive juggernaut.

1 guy who can shoot off the dribble consistently... no thanks. Our offense would be maddening to watch. Barf, how can you even suggest such an anemic offensive lineup.

"Organic Growth" with OG, Ben, FVV and Pascal. At their age, both OG and Ben can still improve greatly.
Plus that C needs to be stretch 5 ala Myles Turner to open the penetration lanes for Ben and others.
There would be a lot of different ways to attack teams with those kind of players: In Nurse I trust.

[ash_k]

Can’t understand why people want this to happen. Can only guess they didn’t watch him play in the playoffs.

I can only hope that our “interest” is just Masai kicking the tires to see if he can get the guy at a bargain basement price.

the smart ones know that having a lineup with FVV+OG+Ben+Pascal + C would put us at the VERY top defensively(one of the all-time great potentially)
We will never be able to compete offensively against the Brooklyns of this world. We need a different approach with a defensive juggernaut.

Right. I’m not smart but you are when you think it’s a good idea to pay 29 million a year under a salary cap regime to a GUARD who can’t shoot, can’t make free throws and literally has to be benched during the playoffs.

If you’re acquiring Simmons it’s because you believe that fixing his shot isn’t a lost cause and that you think there’s still time to develop his shot to be at least serviceable not because of his defense.

You are still caught up by what took place against ATL. The man is still only 24. A lot of room to improve
In his first playoffs series:18.2|10.6|9.0
The following year against BKN despite Butler: 17.2|7.6|6.6
2nd in DPOY this year, 4th last year
There is definitely still a massive amount of potential there. Just image our coaching staff working with that!

[Federalies]

Interesting article re: 76ers opening the door for Ben Simmons trade. They go through the teams mentioned by Mark Stein and their likely starting point offers. Below is the section for Toronto but the article also suggests this won’t be a “by the draft” decision as Morey will want to be confident he’s getting the best deal for his team (thanks tips)!

“Toronto is interesting; a sign-and-trade bringing Philly native Kyle Lowry back home has some potential — it’s a pure talent downgrade for the 76ers, but a massive fit upgrade. If the 76ers believe Lowry can stay healthy at age 35, there is potential as a playmaker and shooter that fits on the outside with Joel Embiid inside. Of course, there would be other players involved, and it’s fair to ask if Toronto really wants to pair Simmons and Pascal Siakam, but there is at least the potential for a deal here.”

https://nba.nbcsports.com/2021/07/14/report-cavs-pacers-timberwolves-kings-raptors-have-reached-out-to-76ers-about-simmons/

[FluLikeSymptoms]

Ok I’m into it but where does Ben go and what do we get. Masai doesn’t do 1-way players, there’s simply no chance Ben comes here. Kyle and nothing goes out, the third team gets Ben and they give the additional compensation to Philly, we get... ?

[phanman]

Two most likely trade scenarios in my opinion:

1) Siakam, Ben Simmons one for one.

This is the most simple trade, Siakam gives them a third star and both salaries match. The biggest problem would be if the Sixers are comfortable with paying their entire cap on 3 front court players.

2) Lowry (S&T) + 4th Overall Pick

This trade gives the Sixers the best of both worlds, they can win now and build for the future at the same time. Sixers could potentially have a lineup of Lowry/Suggs/Green/Harris/Embiid. Meanwhile, raptors can create a defensive monster with Simmons/OG/Siakam in the front court.

I personally prefer the 2nd scenario in which the Raptors can assemble a closing lineup of Simmons/VanVleet/Trent/OG/Siakam. A perfect mix of defence, shooting, passing and scoring. The only issue would be interior rebounding and shot blocking which could be resolved by adding a Nerlens Noel, Richaun Holmes, Harrell or dare I dream, Serge Ibaka?

Simmons/VanVleet/OG/Siakam/Ibaka
Flynn/Trent/Watson/Watanabe/Boucher

Who's with me?

1) Pascal has more value and fits our team better than Simmons can/will. Pascal may not be the reliable #1 option or go-to scorer down the stretch but at least he has the moves/ball handling to get open and take those shots. He puts himself in position to take them and that's all you can ask for even if they don't go in. The flaws in Pascal's are more realistic to improve vs Simmons learning to score/shoot. The two year age gap means absolutely nothing considering Pascal started basketball late.
2) We aren't trading our #4 pick for Simmons.

I think its hilarious that 76ers fans think we are the ones that made the grave mistake in not trading them Lowry at the deadline. Like we are that hurting for Thybulle, Maxey etc. When in reality they gave up a Finals birth and likely championship by not trading for him. Lowry would have pushed them past ATL and with Giannis the last 2 games in the ECF they would have beat them too.

Ben Simmons is 6'11 and weighs 240 pounds. If Raps want him it's probably to stick him in as a centre. Heck Draymond Green always played centre during crunch time and Simmons is basically a rich man's version of him.

No he isn't. Dray's a better defender than Ben is despite being 5" shorter in the post. He also is a more reliable FT shooter and is willing to take the open 3 if available.

[Clay Davis]

the smart ones know that having a lineup with FVV+OG+Ben+Pascal + C would put us at the VERY top defensively(one of the all-time great potentially)
We will never be able to compete offensively against the Brooklyns of this world. We need a different approach with a defensive juggernaut.

Right. I’m not smart but you are when you think it’s a good idea to pay 29 million a year under a salary cap regime to a GUARD who can’t shoot, can’t make free throws and literally has to be benched during the playoffs.

If you’re acquiring Simmons it’s because you believe that fixing his shot isn’t a lost cause and that you think there’s still time to develop his shot to be at least serviceable not because of his defense.

You are still caught up by what took place against ATL. The man is still only 24. A lot of room to improve
In his first playoffs series:18.2|10.6|9.0
The following year against BKN despite Butler: 17.2|7.6|6.6
2nd in DPOY this year, 4th last year
There is definitely still a massive amount of potential there. Just image our coaching staff working with that!

Dude he has had years to add onto his potential and has played around some of the hardest workers in the entire league. The league is filled with kids who have potential but the ones who have the discipline and tenacity to actually reach it are the ones we tend to bet on.

Sent from my moto g(8) power lite using RealGM mobile app

[Johnny Bball]

the smart ones know that having a lineup with FVV+OG+Ben+Pascal + C would put us at the VERY top defensively(one of the all-time great potentially)
We will never be able to compete offensively against the Brooklyns of this world. We need a different approach with a defensive juggernaut.

Right. I’m not smart but you are when you think it’s a good idea to pay 29 million a year under a salary cap regime to a GUARD who can’t shoot, can’t make free throws and literally has to be benched during the playoffs.

If you’re acquiring Simmons it’s because you believe that fixing his shot isn’t a lost cause and that you think there’s still time to develop his shot to be at least serviceable not because of his defense.

You are still caught up by what took place against ATL. The man is still only 24. A lot of room to improve
In his first playoffs series:18.2|10.6|9.0
The following year against BKN despite Butler: 17.2|7.6|6.6
2nd in DPOY this year, 4th last year
There is definitely still a massive amount of potential there. Just image our coaching staff working with that!

This thread is 20 pages long and if people are still pigeon holed into Simmons being a guard... there's no no point arguing with them about any of it.

Again, he's better at being a C.

[carlosey]

His stock is low, but unless there is some radical change in his game, he wont be a playoff performer.

[Son Goku 25]

some of these suggestions man

[phanman]

Right. I’m not smart but you are when you think it’s a good idea to pay 29 million a year under a salary cap regime to a GUARD who can’t shoot, can’t make free throws and literally has to be benched during the playoffs.

If you’re acquiring Simmons it’s because you believe that fixing his shot isn’t a lost cause and that you think there’s still time to develop his shot to be at least serviceable not because of his defense.

You are still caught up by what took place against ATL. The man is still only 24. A lot of room to improve
In his first playoffs series:18.2|10.6|9.0
The following year against BKN despite Butler: 17.2|7.6|6.6
2nd in DPOY this year, 4th last year
There is definitely still a massive amount of potential there. Just image our coaching staff working with that!

This thread is 20 pages long and if people are still pigeon holed into Simmons being a guard... there's no no point arguing with them about any of it.

Again, he's better at being a C.

Only issue with this that he isn't a rim protector and his wing span is only 7ft despite being 6'11. It's not really that big of an issue if we steal him from Philly though because an OG, Pascal, Simmons frontcourt are all interchangeable and capable of switching.

He really does help offset Freddy's average(below?) playmaking and allow Pascal to work more off the ball but we'd still go into the season hoping for someone to take another leap offensively and fulfill the role that Kawhi left behind. To his credit, he'd at the very least create easier opportunities for the guys currently and allow Suggs to develop at his own pace to helpfully be groomed into that guy.

[lobosloboslobos]

Assuming we keep OG and at least 2 of Siakim, Fred and Lowry the addition of Simmons gives us hands down the best defense in the league. We wouldn't need him to be a primary scorer like in Philly but he can still do his part. He can also distribute and rebound. IN the playoff crunch we have other guys who we can look to unlike Philly. I've been saying since the day the Sixers lost that he'd be a great fit here and I still think so.

[dkb9696]

I would imagine the outgoing player would be Siakam, which is not the type of player that the 76ers need. I suppose there could be a three team trade. If the Raptors swapped Simmons for Siakam I would be on board. I do not want to include and picks or OG.

[Ell Curry]

If the Kings are leading with their Hield + Bagley + 3 first round picks offer, can Philly send us Bagley, Maxey and a Kings first for Lowry and give him like 50/3, or would that hard cap them?

Because I could see us trying to rehab Bagley as a starting 5 that we can walk away from if it doesn't work IF we got Maxey and a 1st too, and the 76ers get a proper 4 guard rotation in Lowry, Hield, Curry, Milton, though they'd be a bit short in the frontcourt behind Thybulle-Harris-Embiid apart from Korkmaz and Paul Reed, though they'll find a passable backup 5 okay in free agency for cheap presumably.

[NotMyKawhi]

If the Kings are leading with their Hield + Bagley + 3 first round picks offer, can Philly send us Bagley, Maxey and a Kings first for Lowry and give him like 50/3, or would that hard cap them?

Because I could see us trying to rehab Bagley as a starting 5 that we can walk away from if it doesn't work IF we got Maxey and a 1st too, and the 76ers get a proper 4 guard rotation in Lowry, Hield, Curry, Milton, though they'd be a bit short in the frontcourt behind Thybulle-Harris-Embiid apart from Korkmaz and Paul Reed, though they'll find a passable backup 5 okay in free agency for cheap presumably.

If the Kings did this I'd get so mad

buddy is better for them in the playoffs than simmons. Bagley is still young and those future 1sts are guaranteed to be lottery picks.

Please don't let this happen