Kings don’t want to trade D’Aron Fox or Tyres Haliburton for Ben Simmons. Timberwolves do not want to trade Carl-Anthony Town, Anthony Edwards or D’Angelo Russell for Simmons. The Warriors don’t want to trade for James Wiseman or Jonathan Cumming for Simmons. Trail Blazers doesn’t want to trade Damien Lillard for Simmons until Lillard agrees to stay in Portland.
Cavs point guard Darius Garland will provide the main elements of Simmons ’lack in Philadelphia, primarily 3-point shooting and total scoring. But moving from Simmons to Garland could be a huge improvement for the 76-year-old, who has made significant defensive degradations and has a less dangerous facility. Although Garland (21) is younger than Simmons (25), the 76ers are preferring the current with Joel Embid.
And there’s no guarantee that Cleveland Garland is offering, though.
Colin Sexton and Kevin Love are on the trade block – and the Cavaliers paid more.
Sexton is a talented challenger with a quick improved 3-point shot. But he has a tunnel vision, and his defensive effectiveness lags far behind where his energy and ic-thalliism suggests.
Although Love’s higher salary may be useful to match Simmons’ salary, Love has a total negative value on his contract. This has been clear for years to almost everyone outside of Cleveland.
Cave has other chips – Isaac Okoro and Future Picks. Once they can be traded, even Evan Moble, Jarrett Lenlan, Laurie Markkenen and Ricky Rubio.
Of course, Mobley and Lennon in particular will adapt to the embed in Philadelphia. But Mobley, Lennon and Simmons don’t provide enough distance by shooting, either to fit neatly with the Cavaliers.
Cleveland trading is certainly possible for Simmons. But there are many obstacles.
