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Neither Sixers star is worthy of all the Golden State Warriors’ assets

By Nathan Beighle

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 18: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts to a foul call in the fourth quarter against the Brooklyn Nets during game three of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on April 18, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 18: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts to a foul call in the fourth quarter against the Brooklyn Nets during game three of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on April 18, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid both sound like players the Warriors should target, but neither is worthy of the team’s full package of assets.

The Golden State Warriors will have options this offseason.

A week and a half ago, they were officially given the No. 2 overall pick. While it’s not great and they didn’t techinally win the lottery, Golden State did far better than the Cleveland Cavaliers who had the highest odds for the top overall pick and fell to No. 5.

With that pick, the Warriors could have a plethora of superstars to choose from — especially if they opt to package that pick with their top-three protected 2021 first-round pick they acquired from Minnesota.

Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, after their pitiful playoff run in which they were swept by the Celtics, a series Simmons didn’t play in, could be on the hot seat in Philadelphia after several failed postseason runs in a row.

Neither would be worth enough to Golden State for the Warriors to give them the Giannis Antetokounmpo package. While that package could include Klay Thompson and multiple picks, even both firsts and Andrew Wiggins feels like it’d be too much to give up for Simmons or Embiid.

Simmons is likely the more valuable of the two.

He’s less injury-prone and is arguably a more skilled creator on the offensive end. He also had a league-high 2.1 steals per game. Being able to defend the 1-4 would also be very beneficial for a Warriors team that loves to switch defensively.

For Embiid, he’d give the Warriors a big man presence they haven’t had since the start of their dynasty. His abilities would give them what they hoped to bring in when they added DeMarcus Cousins.

But, with both stars entering their respective prime and the Warriors would be in a better position to contend with them on the roster, they shouldn’t give up a package containing the two picks and an up-and-coming prospect.

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They could use either the two, but they wouldn’t be that pivotal to the Warriors’ success that will inevitably come when Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson both return healthy next season.

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