Drafted first overall in the 2016 NBA Draft to be the future of the Philadelphia 76ers, Ben Simmons’ time with the Sixers is coming to an end this season. Offensively, he has been a liability for them and while he is a great defender, Simmons himself does not appear to want to be in Philadelphia anymore after requesting a trade in the offseason and refusing to show up to team activities.
Simmons has reported to the team to avoid getting fined fully, but he is currently out due to “mental health” reasons and is citing that he is “not ready” to return to the team. He is never going to be ready to return to the 76ers because the 3x All-Star simply does not want to play for them anymore!
Daryl Morey and the 76ers’ front-office know this, hence why they have been actively trying to trade Ben Simmons for months now, but the right deal has not come their way. This organization has remained adamant that they want an All-Star-level player in return in a trade package involving Simmons, but no teams in the NBA have been willing to offer up this kind of value for a guy being labeled as a liability right now.
Earlier this month, reports surfaced about the 76ers re-engaging with teams about a Ben Simmons trade due to recently signed players becoming eligible to be traded on Dec. 15. Now, The Athletic’s Shams Charania is reporting that 76ers are “ramping up their efforts” to trade Simmons and that the Lakers, Timberwolves, Knicks, Trail Blazers, Kings, Pacers and Cavaliers are all interested.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: These Teams Are Interested In Ben Simmons Trade As Talks Heat Up
Seeing the Cleveland Cavaliers listed here is definitely interesting, but it definitely does make sense why they would want to add Ben Simmons to their roster. Cleveland is currently 19-13 on the season and with Collin Sexton done for the year, they could use another dynamic playmaker.
Most recently, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Cleveland Cavaliers are ‘one team to watch’ in potential trade talks for Ben Simmons as the February deadline approaches. The Cavs were singled out in the report that also mentioned the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and Minnesota Timberwolves as ‘expected to show interest’ in a deal for Simmons.
Given his size, athleticism, defensive abilities, and his craftiness to create for others, Ben Simmons could fit right in next to Darius Garland in the backcourt, making the Cavaliers a formidable foe in the Eastern Conference this season.
Garland would be the only non-seven-footer in the Cavs starting rotation should they acquire Simmons from Philadelphia, which makes for an extremely fascinating scenario in Cleveland.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: These Teams Are Interested In Ben Simmons Trade As Talks Heat Up
However, Collin Sexton was the Cavs’ best trade asset before the season when they were inquiring about Ben Simmons. With him out for the year due to a torn meniscus, the Cavaliers may not have the assets to spark a trade with the Sixers for Simmons.
Nonetheless, let’s take a look at what the Cleveland Cavaliers could offer the Philadelphia 76ers in attempts to try and land Ben Simmons.
