Report: The Philadelphia 76ers want a Damian Lillard or Shai Gilgeous Alexander tier player for Ben Simmons. Will Daryl Morey get what he wants?

It’s almost 2022, and Ben Simmons has yet to be traded. The Philadelphia 76ers have been extremely patient in waiting for the right trade as they believe that they are in no rush of trading Simmons. However, with Embiid currently in his prime and the 76ers having a record of 15-12, improvement needs to happen if the 76ers want to compete for a championship this season or the next. 

According to a recent report by Marc Stein of the New York Times, general manager Daryl Morey revealed what he expects in a trade for Simmons. (This quote surfaced on December 11, 2021).

The 76ers have essentially completed a third of their season at 14-12 but league sources say that president of basketball operations Daryl Morey continues to hold firm on his ambitions in a Simmons deal, seeking a return package for Simmons headlined by a player from the Damian Lillard/Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tier.

Since the start of the Simmons drama, Morey has been very consistent in what he expects from organizations interested in trading for Simmons. While some may argue that Morey’s tactics are extreme, he wants the best possible package for Simmons. As far as receiving players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Damian Lillard for Simmons, the probability of those organizations considering a swap without any other assets are very unlikely. 

This is not the first time Simmons and Lillard have been intertwined in trade rumours. Trade rumours have swept the basketball community, with both players feeling displeased with their situations as many mock trades have surfaced online. However, only interest has been expressed by the 76ers and nothing more. The likelihood of the Portland Trail Blazers accepting a Lillard for Simmons swap is close to impossible. Lillard and the organization have agreed to stay and work towards improving the roster. Unless Morey is comfortable with the idea of a CJ McCollum trade, the 76ers will never be able to complete a deal with the Blazers. However, can Morey somehow swindle the Oklahoma City Thunder?

While Lillard has been one of the most rumoured players to be traded this season, Gilgeous-Alexander is not. Despite being briefly in the trade market before the season, Oklahoma City never completed a deal and extended Gilgeous-Alexander to a well-deserved max contract. With Simmons and Gilgeous-Alexander having similar contracts, a trade financially could work. Still, the debate on who is the better player could conflict with any trade proposal. 

Morey has repeatedly stated that he is assessing Simmons based on his potential and not his current status. Simmons has superstar potential in the NBA as he is only 25-years-old with close to a decade left of his young prime. The future of Simmons could be bright and Hall of Fame worthy. However, when assessing who is currently better between both players, Gilgeous-Alexander is better than Simmons for many reasons. 

Simmons is an athletic force of nature who can defend at an elite level while being the best playmaker at his height. Unfortunately, his lack of a jump-shot and ability to make late-game free throws has caused his drastic plummet in value across the NBA. However, Gilgeous-Alexander (one of the better shooting point-guards in the NBA) can add more to an organization than Simmons, as he is also a solid defender and playmaker. It’s logical why Morey would want Gilgeous-Alexander as he is a lengthy guard who can do almost anything that Simmons can but with a jump-shot. 

Concluding thoughts

The Portland Trailblazers have already closed the idea of a Simmons for Lillard trade. However, the Oklahoma City Thunder have yet to reveal if they are against the idea of a Gilgeous-Alexander for Simmons trade. While it is unlikely that Oklahoma would accept a one-for-one trade, negotiations for the former All-Star could be already brewing. Unless Morey is willing to give more than just Simmons, the likelihood of the 76ers attaining either player is close to none. 

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