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One week removed from a disappointing Game 7 performance in the Philadelphia 76ers’ Eastern Conference semifinals loss to the Atlanta Hawks, All-Star point guard Ben Simmons continues to find his name swirling around in trade speculation due to his offensive shortcomings.
Although the former No. 1 overall pick has not formally requested a trade from Philly, his agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, has had discussions with Sixers management regarding Simmons’ future with the club, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on June 24.
A new report on Friday, July 2 indicates that the 76ers may have already turned down one very enticing proposal from the Indiana Pacers.
According to KRON4 News’ Jason Dumas, Indiana’s trade package for Simmons was centered around fifth-year guard Malcolm Brogdon and a first-round pick, but was ultimately rejected by the Sixers.
“The Sixers have already fielded offers for Ben Simmons but continue to hold a stance that they will only trade him for an all-star caliber player,” Dumas tweeted. “They most recently turned down a deal with the Pacers that included Malcolm Brogdon and a 1st round pick.”
Simmons averaged 9.9 points, 8.6 assists, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game throughout the Atlanta series, down offensively from his 14.3 points per game in the regular season.
Brogdon Comes With Extensive Injury History
For now, Philly is wise for holding off. There is no need to rush into trading away a three-time All-Star before the NBA’s hot offseason summer starts to really pick up steam.
While Brogdon, who’s an ideal fit for Philly given his two-way capabilities, including his outside touch and defensive prowess, he brings with him a history of injuries, including multiple quad muscle tears, one in March 2020 and another in February 2018, a minor plantar fascia tear in March 2019 and a concussion last season.
In bringing in a player like Brogdon, the Sixers risk long-term stability for short-term results.
Averaging 21.2 points, 5.9 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 0.9 steals for the Pacers, Brogdon turned in some of the best numbers of his career, including a career-best in points, assists, and rebounds. But, stats aren’t the issue for Brogdon.
For Philly, in a deal that will ship its All-Star point guard in Simmons, it’s a nagging hamstring injury that plagued Brogdon throughout the 2020-21 season. Also, it’s still very early in the process.
Can Sixers Do Better Than Brogdon?
If Philadelphia is adamant about only wanting to trade Simmons for an All-Star in return, Brogdon could turn out to be the closest thing to a star point guard involved in any proposals heading the Sixers’ way.
It wouldn’t be shocking to see the Sixers turn around and return to trade talks with the Pacers for their 28-year-old point guard. Clearly, the name is talented enough to capture Philly’s attention. Still, seeing how the rejected offer is perceived by the rest of the league could lead to additional teams stepping up with their best offers, which if you’re the 76ers, is exactly what you want.
Simmons, 24, is still considered to be one of the league’s brightest premier point guards. The two-time NBA All-Defensive Team recipient was also named to the 2019-20 All-NBA Third Team and still has plenty of room to grow.
However, at this stage in his career, it’s difficult to say, with certainty, if that will continue to happen in Philly or somewhere else.
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