Golden State Warriors: Ben Simmons officially wants out of Philly
There’s no denying the Golden State Warriors should be on the phone with the Philadelphia Sixers regarding the Defensive Player of the Year finalist Ben Simmons, but things have been relatively quiet since no deal was crafted prior to the draft.
That’s since changed as news has been popping regarding the star.
The Golden State Warriors may or may not make a push for Philadelphia three-time All-Star Ben Simmons, but he’s officially done with the Sixers.
Philadelphia’s Daryl Morey had extreme expectations on the value of Simmons, seemingly wanting four first-round picks and the Warriors two young stars. That was never going to happen. Now, the Sixers have no leverage as Simmons clearly wants out.
Morey is the president of basketball operations with the Sixers after spending time with the James Harden-led Houston Rockets, and he’s now in an awkward, unfamiliar situation. Per The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey, Simmons “no longer wants to be a Sixer.”
This is going to make for an interesting situation as the offseason continues to drag on.
Clearly, Ben Simmons has value, and he’s just 25 years old, making him still a young, budding star. He should be able to fix his shooting with time, but for now, franchises would be holding their breath on that.
The franchise has reportedly been split on Simmons, but if the price on the star drops, some may favor trading for the versatile point guard.
Simmons, Thompson, and Green would make an elite defensive trio, and we’ve seen that Curry can thrive without much shooting on the court. After all, the Warriors did play Kevon Looney and James Wiseman alongside Green at times last season.
With the Warriors a team that can push the pace, allowing Simmons to play his game, both in the halfcourt and on the break, could be beneficial. Simmons would be that second scoring threat the team desperately needs.
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He’s worth Andrew Wiggins and James Wiseman, but anything more could get into unknown ground for Philadelphia. At least in the near future, it’s unlikely a deal gets done as both sides likely won’t see eye-to-eye on Simmons’ value.