Toronto Raptors Receive: G/F Ben Simmons, PHI 2023 1st Round Pick (Lottery-Protected)
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: F Pascal Siakam, TOR 2024 1st Round Pick (Swap, More Favorable to PHI), TOR 2025 1st Round Pick (Top-8 Protected)
The Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, and some other teams are pursuing Ben Simmons, but the Toronto Raptors have also been a team mentioned in NBA trade rumors revolving around the 76ers’ All-Star. The fallout in Philly between management and Simmons has been quite dramatic over the last several weeks and they could very well be looking to move him as soon as possible.
Given his length, defensive prowess, and potential to be a two-way star in this league, Ben Simmons is definitely a valuable player for the Raptors to consider, but they would almost definitely have to trade Pascal Siakam in the process.
Not only do they both play the power-forward positions, but Siakam is the All-Star-level talent the Philadelphia 76ers are searching for to replace Ben Simmons.
Seeing as they both make $33M during the 2021-22 season, the Raptors and 76ers could easily get away with a one-on-one trade like the one outlined above, especially if some draft picks are being thrown around from team-to-team.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Predictions for Latest NBA Trade Rumors: Simmons, Siakam, Dragic, Lillard
Philadelphia may have envisioned a larger return for Ben Simmons, but with training camps set to begin soon, they are going to have to settle for the best offer out there for the All-Star 7-footer if they want to move him before the start of the season.
This is definitely one of the better offers the Sixers could get, but this trade really does work out in favor of the Raptors as well. Not only does Simmons fit right in with what they do defensively, but his upside is much greater than that of Siakam’s and he is under contract long-term, giving Toronto time to not only develop Ben Simmons further but surrounding him with other playmakers and scorers over the next few seasons.
Right now, the Raptors are not a title threat in the Eastern Conference and quite honestly, Pascal Siakam is not capable of being the No. 1, perennial All-Star type of player that Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry were for the Raptors. He is a great player, do not get me wrong, but Siakam is a top-tier No. 2 option at best in this league.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Predictions for Latest NBA Trade Rumors: Simmons, Siakam, Dragic, Lillard
He has been great with the Raptors over the years and will definitely continue to be next to Fred VanVleet for years to come, but if Toronto wants to maximize their chances to get back to being a team to beat in this league, then they will need to take risks and add guys like Ben Simmons, who has a real chance to become one of the best players in the league if he can continue to develop, specifically on offense.
