An intriguing trade proposal has the Brooklyn Nets sending two-way star Ben Simmons to an up-and-coming team in the Western Conference.
It’s been nearly two years now since the Nets acquired Simmons in a blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia 76ers in a move that sent James Harden to Philadelphia. Brooklyn commenced a rebuild last season by sending superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks, respectively.
But the No. 1 selection of the 2016 NBA Draft remains a member of a Nets team that is nowhere close to championship contention. As such, it appears to only be a matter of time until Simmons is traded.
At NBA Analysis Network, James Piercey proposed a blockbuster trade idea that has the San Antonio Spurs acquiring Simmons in exchange for Devonte’ Graham, Doug McDermott and Khem Birch:
“Simmons and (Victor) Wembanyama could make for an intriguing pair. If Wembanyama couldn’t shoot, that wouldn’t be the case. Unfortunately, Nicolas Claxton does not space the floor. That’s made him an awkward fit alongside Simmons.
If the Nets are choosing between them, they’ve got to choose Claxton. He’s a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Here, they’re getting two valuable rotation players for him. Graham is a solid backup guard, and McDermott is one of the best shooters in the NBA.
In fact, the Nets could be happy to move on from Simmons. This deal cleans up their books in a significant way. McDermott and Birch are on expiring deals, and the size of Graham’s deal pales compared to Simmons’. The Nets may have expected more from Simmons, but this is better than nothing. “
The Spurs have a promising future thanks to the arrival of Victor Wembanyama, whom they drafted with the first overall pick this year. But Gregg Popovich’s group is still several pieces away from contending in the unforgiving Western Conference, so the front office should feel the pressure to make a blockbuster trade sooner rather than later.
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Simmons was a two-way force for the 76ers but simply hasn’t found his game with the Nets. A change of scenery is his best bet, and one can argue that the Spurs are the ideal landing spot for the three-time All-Star.
Simmons appears to be on borrowed time in Brooklyn. But will the Spurs be the club that steps up and makes a move for him? Only time will tell, but he certainly feels like the ideal sidekick for Wembanyama.
