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Philadelphia 76ers: 5 intriguing Ben Simmons trade propositions

By Simon Smith

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 11: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Atlanta Hawks at the Wells Fargo Center on January 11, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Hawks defeated the 76ers 123-121. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 11: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Atlanta Hawks at the Wells Fargo Center on January 11, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Hawks defeated the 76ers 123-121. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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3. New York Knicks

Expected to be major suitors this offseason, Knicks fans are already excited with the highly-rumored pending arrival of Kevin Durant. However, the acquisition of a player such as Simmons in the meantime would only cause even more potential excitement in the Big Apple. In addition to holding the No. 3 overall pick in the upcoming draft, the Knicks possess a number of intriguing, young and talented pieces.

For the Sixers: Acquired at the trade deadline in the deal that saw Kristaps Porzingis head to Dallas, Dennis Smith Jr. is without doubt an untapped product. Possessing incredible athleticism, Smith nonetheless has plenty of flaws — most notably, the inconsistency in his perimeter shooting.

However, in 122 career games, Smith has produced 21 games of at least 20 points, and eight games of at least 10 assists. As the No. 9 overall pick in 2017, the next step for the 21-year-old Smith will be to put it altogether on a consistent basis. An extremely attacking point guard, Smith averaged 14.1 drives per games in his 21 games with the Knicks, which ranked 14th in the league during this period of time.

A huge surprise packet last season for the Knicks was center Mitchell Robinson. Selected at No. 36 overall, Robinson’s combination of elite athleticism and terrific defensive instincts meant he was able to make a significant impact at both ends of the floor. Overall, the 7’1″ rookie averaged 7.3 points, 6.4 and 2.4 blocks in just 20.6 minutes per game.

Unfortunately, Robinson’s extremely high foul rate meant he fouled out in eight of his 66 appearances, including once in just nine minutes of action. On a per 36 minutes basis, Robinson averaged 5.7 fouls, a number that must drop significantly moving forward.

However, in a backup role behind Embiid, Robinson would have the chance to not only play with a great deal of freedom, but also provide the Sixers a legitimate presence at the defensive end — something they clearly lacked when the Process was off the floor.

The parameter of the deal, which works out financially on the ESPN Trade Machine, is as follows:

In addition to the main pieces in Simmons, Smith and Robinson, Lance Thomas and Jonathon Simmons switch teams in order for salaries to match.

For the Knicks: While the Knicks get a genuine box office star in Simmons, the Sixers address a couple of areas with a point guard who is prepared to shoot and an exciting backup center with loads of potential.