There weren’t as many big trades this offseason in the NBA as many people had thought there would be. Trade rumors persisted that NBA All-Stars could be on the move, but the biggest trade that occurred was Russell Westbrook heading to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal remained with their respective teams and don’t look like they will be on the move any time soon. The same cannot be said about Ben Simmons, who looks like he will be the next big-name player on the move sooner than later.
The relationship between Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers is beyond repair. Simmons has officially requested a trade from the 76ers, which may complicate their negotiations.
Daryl Morey doesn’t have much bargaining power if everyone around the league knows that Simmons will be on the move sooner than later. Earlier this offseason, he was asking for the moon in proposed deals to the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, and Toronto Raptors, but that price will have to come down.
READ MORE: Predictions for Latest NBA Trade Rumors: Simmons, Siakam, Dragic, Lillard
Plenty of teams around the league will show interest in Ben Simmons, but figuring out what it may cost to land him is anyone’s guess. Will it be a salary dump of sorts, as their bargaining power is gone? Or will they be able to exact some value from this deal?
The Charlotte Hornets could get into the foray now that a trade demand has been issued. Let’s take a look at what a swap between the two teams would look like.