Even in the middle of the Conference Finals, the NBA is abuzz with rumors that the Philadelphia 76ers could trade Ben Simmons this offseason. There are a lot of signs pointing to a split between Simmons and the Sixers, making a trade involving Simmons increasingly likely. But where could Simmons end up going in a trade? Let’s check out the five intriguing destinations.
Trail Blazers
After yet another first-round playoff exit, the Trail Blazers have to be thinking about shaking things up. It’s possible that Portland could work out a C.J. McCollum for Simmons trade.
That would put Simmons with Damian Lillard, taking a little bit of pressure off of Simmons. At the same time, he would be an upgrade over McCollum defensively, which would also help Portland’s chances of climbing up the Western Conference hierarchy and being a more serious contender in the playoffs.
Spurs
As mentioned, Simmons is a strong defensive player, which is why he’d be a good fit with Gregg Popovich in San Antonio. Plus, Popovich might be the veteran coach that Simmons needs to take his entire game to the next level.
With DeMar DeRozan approaching free agency, he could be a sign-and-trade candidate to send to Philadelphia to help the Spurs land Simmons.
Utah Jazz
With Donovan Mitchell leading the Jazz, Utah is another place where Simmons wouldn’t have to worry about being the catalyst for the entire offense. He would be able to defer to Mitchell and it wouldn’t be a big deal if his shooting doesn’t develop.
Keep in mind the Jazz also have a big man in Rudy Gobert who can help clear the lane for Simmons to drive. With that trio in place, Utah could be a genuine contender in the Western Conference.
Raptors
If the Raptors are still interested in trading Kyle Lowry, exchanging him for Simmons could make sense for all parties. Simmons could be a young superstar that Toronto could build around rather than being a player who’s expected to deliver championships now.
Meanwhile, Lowry could return to his hometown for the latter stages of his career, bringing his championship pedigree to the 76ers.
Rockets
Trading Simmons for John Wall is another potential trade that makes sense on some level. The Rockets need to get younger, so having a rising superstar like Simmons who still has room for improvement would help reinvigorate the franchise and give them hope for the future.
As for Wall, he could turn out to be the point guard the Philadelphia needs. While he has his drawbacks and hasn’t quite lived up to the hype, he would have a good supporting cast around him with the 76ers and be put in a good position to succeed.