Ben Simmons Gets Traded To The Bay Area

Warriors Receive: Ben Simmons ($30.5M 2020-21 Salary)

76ers Receive: Andrew Wiggins ($29.5M), Eric Paschall ($1.5M), GSW 2020 1st Round Pick (Pick #2)

Adding Ben Simmons to the Golden State Warriors would be a match made in heaven as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson could play off-the-ball where they are at their best. Simmons is a guy that can guard numerous positions on the court and next to Draymond Green, could make the Warriors one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.

With Golden State’s ability to shoot with their Hall-of-Fame backcourt in Curry and Thompson, Simmons would not have to be anything more than a facilitator and would not have to change his game. 

Giving up both Wiggins and Paschall leaves the Warriors thin on the wing, but going out and acquiring veteran wing players via free agency would be their agenda. The amount of assets the Warriors would have to give up in order to acquire Simmons may not be ideal for the future of this organization, especially since all three of the pieces they would be trading away are a part of the future of the organization when their core is ready to call it quits.

Of course, Simmons would come into Golden State and be the player the Warriors build around for the future, but with his offensive struggles, he may not be what is best for them. 

For Philadelphia, acquiring playmakers like Wiggins, Paschall, and a possible top pick in the 2020 NBA Draft give them a much more open offense and plenty of weapons that would make it tough for teams to defend. The 76ers would, however, decline defensively as Simmons was one of the best defenders in the NBA last season, being named to the 2019-20 All-Defensive Team. 

Bringing in former Rockets’ GM Daryl Morey to be the President of Basketball Operations with the 76ers may mean that Philly will look to add more shooting and scoring strength to their team, which is why Simmons would be the ideal piece to move. Simmons is not a three-point threat at all and is really only a threat when in the paint.

Both Wiggins and Paschall have the ability to stretch the floor and if they were to be added to this 76ers roster, they would be solid scoring options who would not see as much of the defensive attention that Joel Embiid receives from opponents.

Simmons being traded to the Bay Area relies more heavily on the fact of if the Warriors are willing to invest in him and his skills long-term or build with what they have now.