It feels like Ben Simmons has spent a lifetime asking for a trade, but it's only been seven-ish months.
Yet Sixers fans have largely reached a breaking point with the organization's search for a perfect deal, and many would rather see Daryl Morey just pull the trigger on a good one before the Feb. 10 NBA trade deadline so we can all move on from this trade demand Cold War while also helping Joel Embiid take a legit shot at an NBA Finals run.
If that's where you find yourself, I've got some bad news for you: it does not sound like Simmons is going anywhere before next week's deadline.
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While buzz has been seesawing over the past few weeks between a summer-focused approach and a desire to force a team to part with a star over concern of losing them to free agency, a pair of reports published within minutes of each other has things looking gloomy for those in the "trade Ben now" camp.
PhillyVoice reporter Kyle Neubeck cited multiple sources familiar with the situation who said Simmons is increasingly likely to be with the Sixers after the deadline passes, while NBA insider Marc Stein said rival front offices believe the Sixers are intent on keeping Simmons past the deadline.
Here's what Neubeck reported:
NBA
"With the NBA trade deadline looming less than a week from Friday, it appears increasingly likely Ben Simmons will be with the Sixers after the deadline's conclusion, according to sources familiar with the situation.
"[...]
"The Sixers believe, sources say, that teams with big pick war chests would be able to ultimately outbid them for stars when push comes to shove. They have repeatedly suggested that they could find themselves on the outside looking in of big talks down the road if they turn Simmons and his readymade production into younger long-term bets and/or steady vets to fill out the rotation."
And here's what Stein reported:
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"If Beal suddenly reaches [a trade request], perhaps Washington emerges as an 11th-hour trade destination for Philadelphia's Ben Simmons after repeated assertions from rival teams for weeks that they believe the Sixers are intent on keeping Simmons on their roster beyond the deadline for pursuits in the offseason."
Look, I get what Morey is doing here. It makes some amount of sense to want a more fleshed-out pile of assets for possible movement this summer, when both James Harden and Bradley Beal might be attainable. I get the approach. Simmons is a hugely valuable asset.
But if Beal and/or Harden are intent on forcing their way to another team anyway, the Nets and/or Wizards won't exactly be in a place to draw a hard line in negotiations. The Sixers sent Jimmy Butler to the Heat in a sign-and-trade for Josh Richardson, for goodness' sake. Simmons is too high a price for a sign-and-trade. In theory, you can get something for him now and then make that star move in the offseason, right?
Alas, apparently not.
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Capitalizing on Simmons' worth as a trade chip seems to be tantamount to Morey in his handling of this bizarre holdout, even more so than capitalizing on Embiid's worth on the court. The Sixers are a Top 3 team in the East right now, despite $35 million of the team's available cap space refusing to play. That's an incredible achievement, both in Morey's team-building and Doc Rivers' coaching, to say nothing of Embiid's obvious MVP-level play.
And yet it might all go for naught when the Sixers are short on depth and talent in the playoffs after a grueling regular season that currently has Embiid playing 33 minutes per game.
It's not an easy situation to get right, but it really feels like Morey choosing to chase a more valuable asset this summer is throwing away an extremely valuable asset the Sixers already have: a good basketball team with a great leader who can absolutely make a run - if you simply give him some help.