Report: 76ers general manager Daryl Morey wants to package Tobias Harris in a Ben Simmons trade. Is there a team that could realistically trade with the 76ers?
The Philadelphia 76ers could trade two of their best players on the entire roster by the deadline, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Marc Spears.
The 76ers have been attempting to trade Ben Simmons before the season started and have yet to accomplish their goal. Since Simmons abruptly left the organization, Philadelphia has struggled to find an ideal trade that suits their needs to build around Joel Embiid. However, a recent report by Aaron Rose of Sports Illustrated referenced ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Marc Spears that general manager Daryl Morey is trying to package Tobias Harris in a deal ahead of the trade deadline.
Moving both players in one transaction will be challenging considering that Harris and Simmons make close to 70 million dollars when combining their contracts. That is a lot of salary to absorb and is not an attractive aspect of this trade. However, the real challenge for the 76ers in wanting to trade Simmons and Harris in one package is, convincing an opposing team to trade for one player who is overpaid and another player that has yet to play this season!
Simmons and Harris are some of the most talented players that the NBA currently offers. With Simmons already being a three-time, All-Star and Harris is one of the most consistent third options in the NBA; it will still be a challenge to trade both players together due to their contracts and inactive play. However, with the assumption of the 76ers wanting to trade Simmons and Harris together, only one organization can realistically complete a trade that would satisfy Morey’s exaggerated value of Simmons.
Portland receives- Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris
Philadelphia receives- Damian Lillard, Norman Powell, and Robert Covington
The Portland Trailblazers have been mediocre this season as they currently rank 10th in the Western Conference with a record of 17-25. While both Damian Lillard and C.J McCollum have been out for many games due to injuries, the Trailblazers would at best be a .500 team if both guards were healthy. A rebuild needs to happen in Portland as their current roster is about to lose their play-in spot to the 11th seeded Sacramento Kings if they lose their next game. By considering this proposed trade, it gives Portland one of the best 25-years-old players in Ben Simmons to build around and a border-line All-Star in Tobias Harris. The Trailblazers would also have a competitive roster. Their starting five would be Ben Simmons, CJ McCollum, Larry Nance, Tobias Harris and Jusuf Nurkic, with Anfernee Simons and Nassir Little off the bench. The two negatives about this trade for Portland is receiving Harris’ three-year contract and the Trailblazers exceeding their salary cap.
The 76ers side of this trade would improve their depth while solidifying themselves as contenders in the Eastern Conference. A starting five of Damian Lillard, Seth Curry, Norman Powell, Matisse Thybulle and Joel Embiid with Tyrese Maxey, Shake Milton, Robert Covington and Andre Drummond off the bench would be one of the best teams in the NBA! Embiid is in the heart of his prime and needs a competent roster if the 76ers wish to keep the former All-Star. Doing this trade allows the 76ers to always be in contention mode while also possessing the best duo in the NBA!
Closing Thoughts
The 76ers can be a championship-quality team if they are willing to take risks and make sacrifices. The trade proposal above is suited around Morey’s unrealistic value of Simmons. In reality, the 76ers would have to trade a few draft picks as they would be winning this trade for several reasons. By including Harris in this trade, the 76ers save money as Covington is on his last year of his contract leaving just Powell and Lillard’s contracts. The 76ers would also receive a top ten quality player and significant improvement to their depth as players like Tyrese Maxey would be coming off the bench instead of starting. Portland trades for Simmons and Harris only if the 76ers attach draft picks due to their lack of salary.
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