The Feb. 10 trade deadline is fast approaching and the Philadelphia 76ers will have a very important decision to make.
Do they want to just hang on to Ben Simmons and try moving him in the summer in exchange for a top 25 player? Or they do move him for the sake of moving him and try to win now while Joel Embiid is upright?
It does seem that the Sixers are content with the former as they have a better chance of acquiring the type of player they desire more in the offseason than they do at this moment in time. Philadelphia is not backing down from their asking price for Simmons and they will just have to wait on that.
Furthermore, they are also not interested in anything the Los Angeles Lakers have to offer. While the Lakers have an interest in Simmons, they are obviously not going to trade LeBron James or Anthony Davis for him. Therefore, the only other player that can match Simmons’ salary is Russell Westbrook who is struggling to fit next to James and Davis.
Westbrook did have a season with current Sixers president Daryl Morey and the Houston Rockets, but per Sam Amick of The Athletic, Morey is not interested in another round of Westbrook:
But we forget sometimes that executives are ultra-competitive in their professions as well, and it’s safe to say Morey has no interest in executing a bad deal because of pressure ever again. As an aside, sources say that’s also the reason the Sixers have zero interest in the prospect of swapping Simmons for Westbrook and alleviating the Lakers’ fit concerns with their superstar trio.
The Sixers are right to be feeling this way at the moment. While it is tough to seemingly waste a season of Embiid’s prime, they have to get this Simmons deal right. A guy like Westbrook isn’t going to move the needle right now despite his talent.
Philadelphia is aiming more towards a guy like Damian Lillard, whose current injury could bring his value more towards Simmons’ level for Portland, or James Harden as they move forward.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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