The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to be one of the most active teams on the trade market before the 2022 NBA trade deadline. As the drama surrounding the team worsens, most people believe that the departure of Ben Simmons from the Sixers is inevitable. However, the Sixers don’t plan on dealing Simmons just for the sake of getting out of the City of Brotherly Love.
If they decide to move him, it would be in a deal that would allow them to acquire an All-Star caliber player in return.
Sixers Linked To Kyrie Irving
One of the players that the Sixers could target in the potential deal involving Simmons is All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets. In a recent article, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype talked about Irving’s situation in Brooklyn. If the Nets decide to trade him, one league executive who spoke to HoopsHype believes that the Sixers "legitimate made sense" as a potential trade destination for Irving.
“I would’ve said Philly legitimately made sense with the swap of Ben Simmons and Kyrie,” the NBA executive said. “That’s a team I could’ve seen who’s going for it and needs a scoring guard. That’s literally the only one I could see.”
Sixers Finally Get An All-Star
On paper, swapping Simmons for Irving should be a no-brainer for the Sixers. Irving perfectly fits the description of the player that the Sixers are looking for in the potential deal involving their disgruntled superstar. Irving is a seven-time NBA All-Star with plenty of championship experience.
He would give the Sixers an immediate replacement for Simmons at the starting point guard position. His potential arrival in Philadephia would boost the Sixers’ offense as they would be getting a prolific scorer, an incredible playmaker, and an elite three-point shooter. Last season, he averaged 26.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from beyond the arc, per ESPN.
Kyrie Irving's Family
Like the Nets, joining forces with Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, Danny Green, and Seth Curry in Philadelphia would give Irving a realistic chance of reaching the NBA Finals and capturing the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the 2021-22 NBA season. However, according to Scotto, there’s another major reason why a trade to the Sixers would make a lot of sense for Irving.
"In theory, from a geographical perspective, it would keep Irving close to New Jersey, where he has family ties, and allow him the opportunity to play with a dominant big man, Joel Embiid, in pick-and-roll action and spread the floor more efficiently for the 76ers," Scotto wrote.
Ben Simmons' Questionable Fit
With his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19, trading Irving for Simmons would definitely be worth exploring for the Nets. Unlike Irving, Simmons is vaccinated and physically ready to play. Having an elite defender like Simmons on their roster would give the Nets the much-needed boost on the defensive end of the floor.
However, it wouldn’t also be a surprise if the Nets decide to pass on swapping Irving for Simmons. Despite what he could contribute to their defense, Scotto thinks that Simmons is a "bad fit" with Kevin Durant and James Harden since he also needs the ball in hands to become effective on the court.
]]>The Inquisitr
