Philadelphia 76ers: A groundbreaking, 4-team mega trade proposition

Trade overview

Consisting of four teams and 11 players, here’s an overview of the deal:

For the Sixers:

Pros: In Lillard, the Sixers  would be receiving a legitimate, in-his-prime superstar. With his ability to score from virtually anywhere on the floor, Lillard serves as a terrific complement to Embiid, and along with Jimmy Butler would present as one of the elite trios in the league. Still just 28, and given his recent playoff experience and overall standing in the game, Lillard’s arrival once-and-for-all indicates the Sixers are clearly in win-now mode.

Additionally, veteran scorer Terrence Ross would present an excellent scoring option coming off the bench. A key member of he Magic’s second unit, Ross is currently averaging a career-high 13.3 points per game while shooting at a 39.2 percent clip from 3-point range.

Cons: Naturally, giving up on a transcendent talent such as Simmons presents a great deal of risk. Given that he and Embiid have played just a season and a half together, and their age brackets are relatively similar, this is the the question that will follow the franchise should the deal not come to fruition.

For the Pelicans:

Pros: This is somewhat of a last-grasp move on the part of the Pelicans. With Davis’ future completely up in the air, the addition of a potential megastar in Simmons, who like Davis is managed by Klutch Sports Group, could potentially prove a masterstroke. With Simmons being 22 and Davis still just 25, this incredible duo could form one of the most dynamic partnerships in the league.

Additionally, the Sixers’ pair of Wilson Chandler and Mike Muscala are also included in the deal for financial reasons

Cons: Given Simmons’ lack of an outside shot, a problem with spacing for Davis could provide a genuine issue for the Pelicans. Furthermore, the loss of two internal pieces in Holiday and Mirotic, both squarely in their primes, will be difficult to replace given the skill-sets of the players coming on board.

For the Blazers:

Pros: By adding Holiday, Mirotic and Fournier, the Blazers keep themselves well entrenched in the playoff window. While they have made the postseason for the past five years, their existing core has basically gotten the most out of itself, and thus a change in personnel is not necessarily a bad thing. With these additions, the Blazers present as a more well-rounded and versatile scoring unit.

Cons: While the loss of Lillard is self-explanatory, the departure of a pair of athletic and versatile forwards in Al-Farouq Aminu and Maurice Harkless would be felt in particular at the defensive end of he floor. However, the loss of the face of the franchise and a member of the All-NBA First Team from last season in Lillard is extremely hard to measure. In this case, only time would tell on the upshot of the deal.

For the Magic:

Pros: The chance to add a 20-year-old just over 18 months removed from being selected No. 1 overall is nothing to sneeze at. While Markelle Fultz comes with a great deal of risk, the upside and need for young talent in the backcourt means this should be almost a no-brainer for the Magic.

While the loss of Evan Fournier is a blow, the additions of Aminu and Harkless not only add depth to the frontcourt, they’re also contracts expiring sooner than that of Fournier. As a result, if the Magic trajectory continues in its current form, this is going to create extra cap space once they become players in the free agency market in the next couple of summers.

Cons: By losing both Fournier and Ross, the Magic are losing a significant part of their perimeter firepower in one transaction. Additionally, the inclusion of Aminu and Harkless is likely to prove a headache for head coach Steve Clifford, with the battle for minutes in the frontcourt sure to create some problems.

Overall, while the Sixers are clearly in no hurry to deal Simmons, for the benefit of the franchise as a whole, this may be the best path forward to achieve their best as a franchise, and to maximize the talents of the remaining personnel.