It doesn’t sound like the 76ers are any closer to finding a trade for Ben Simmons, but that does not mean they don’t a list of players they would kick him out the door for.
According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, there are “approximately 30 players who would satisfy the Sixers in a Simmons swap.” Not only that, but there’s said to be an “internal belief” that a fair amount of those players could become available at some point over the next couple of years.
“This is like a multi-year thing,” a 76ers source told Amick.
Damian Lillard is said to be “near the top” of Philadelphia’s list. Bradley Beal is also high that list. Amick mentions James Harden as well, who has a history with 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey from their time in Houston.
“As you may have heard by now, Portland’s Damian Lillard is not only on said list but somewhere near the top,” Amick wrote, via The Athletic. “Ditto for Brooklyn’s James Harden, the former Rocket with whom Morey tried unsuccessfully to reunite with in January and who, by the way, could come to Philly via sign-and-trade this summer if he decides to shock the basketball world and leave Kevin Durant behind. Also high on the list: Washington’s Bradley Beal. Those kinds of guys.”
Simmons has yet to play a game this season.
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Amick reported that a source with knowledge of talks between the two sides indicated that Simmons recently “reiterated his strong desire to be traded.”
Simmons has career averages of 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game.
Having signed an extension in 2019, Simmons is under contract through the 2024-25 season.
