Every time the Ben Simmons rumors come up, the LA Clippers are involved.
Ben Simmons is reportedly interested in landing with the Warriors, Kings, and Clippers 👀 pic.twitter.com/G2WQCmXgTF
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 1, 2021
Simmons has reportedly been interested in the Clippers, and while I don’t want him, many fans actually do. Plenty of the media also has continued to try to drive this narrative.
Is Ben Simmons good at almost everything on the basketball court? I mean, yes, but before we even get into the Ben Simmons shooting controversy, let me just ask what package the Clippers would have to send over. They have no tradeable first round picks until 2027, and at one point the 76ers were reportedly looking for four first round picks for Simmons.
The Clips would have to unload many role players who were crucial to the team’s success this past year. Terance Mann, Ivica Zubac, Marcus Morris Sr., and Luke Kennard have all been suggested as trade pieces earlier this offseason, but the Clips would have to give up likely all of them if they want Simmons. Again, the 76ers aren’t going to let us off easy if we don’t have what they want: Draft picks. Three other teams speculated to maybe having mutual interest with Simmons have packages that would be hard for the Clippers to beat.
No. 3 Ben Simmons trade package that the LA Clippers would have to beat:
If the LA Clippers want Ben Simmons, they may have to fend off a good deal from the Portland Trail Blazers.
The 76ers aren’t getting their four first-round draft picks anymore, as Simmons’ value continues to drop as he wants nothing to do with the Sixers these days. The Blazers at least have one they could trade, however, and Simmons has been linked to the Blazers this offseason.
There’s no proof that Damian Lillard really does want to leave Portland, but this trade could still make the 76ers better, so they would be interested. McCollum is a good three-point shooter in this league, which is obviously one of Simmons’ biggest problems on the Sixers. Also, he’s a lock to put up over 20 points per game.
McCollum, while adding a first-round pick in 2022 and a young former first-round pick in Anfernee Simons, who’s a good shooter, is probably more of the type of haul the Sixers are looking for.
Again, maybe the Sixers would be cool with us trading them three or all of Morris, Zubac, Mann, and Kennard, but they want picks and/or money too. We don’t have either.