The Philadelphia 76ers and disgruntled NBA All-Star Ben Simmons have been full of drama for months now and many still believe that he will end up being traded. While nothing has happened yet, the rumors are still swirling. Among the teams rumored to be interested are the Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers, and others.
Simmons has not publicly stated what he would prefer, but it is clear that he has no interest in playing for the 76ers. He has refused to practice with his teammates, which led Doc Rivers to kicking him out of one practice in particular. Now, all we know is that Simmons is saying he isn’t “mentally ready” to play for the 76ers yet.
According to one league source, Simmons would still prefer to be traded. His preferred destination if a trade does occur is the Warriors, who he believes would be a perfect fit for the next chapter of his career.
Why would that be a perfect fit in Simmons’ head? Quite simply, the Draymond Green role is one that Simmons could slide into perfectly. Whether the Warriors would have interest in replacing Green with Simmons is a completely different story.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Are Golden State Warriors Real Title Threats This Year?
It is certainly an intriguing thought. Could Simmons end up being an upgrade for the Warriors over Green? Would he be the piece that takes Golden State back to being one of the top teams in the entire NBA?
Looking at it from the outside, the fit does make a lot of sense. Simmons would have the ball in his hands a lot and would be utilized mostly as a slasher, facilitator, and defender. Those are the things that Simmons does best.
Last season with the 76ers, Simmons ended up putting together a solid all-around year. He averaged 14.3 points per game to go along with 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.6 steals. Simmons shot 55.7 percent from the floor overall, but only knocked down 61.3 percent of his free-throw attempts.
Obviously, one of the biggest snags in Simmons’ career thus far has been his inability to develop a three-point shot. That has allowed defenses to sag off of him, and is something that he needs to continue working on. However, Green is not a lethal shooter for the Warriors and he still finds ways to score and impact the game.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Are Golden State Warriors Real Title Threats This Year?
Granted, Simmons would want to have more of an offensive role than Green currently has for Golden State. That could be something that would throw a wrench in any kind of idea like this. Still, it is intriguing to think about.
Expect to continue hearing a ton of Ben Simmons rumors floating around. Those rumors are not going to die no matter what kind of positive news is leaked out from the Philadelphia 76ers. Simmons still wants a trade and as of right now the Warriors appear to be at the top of his wishlist.
