Reflections on Simmons

I feel that the NBA is a lesser league as this entire season it has been devoid of four of its biggest stars - Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson and Ben Simmons - not to mention Klay Thompson also.  Earlier, I felt that Simmons should either get over his emotions, be a professional and suit up or, somewhat akin to Kyrie, quit the NBA altogether.  But unlike the other players mentioned above, as time progresses Simmons' absence is actually becoming more intriguing.

The greatest factor in this equation is the fact that the 76ers have thus far proven respectfully-competitive even without him.  Back when Simmons was actually playing, I personally considered both Tyrese Maxey and Shake Milton as PGs reminiscent of Terry Rozier when he was in Boston, i.e. clearly deserving more playing/starting time but being limited due to an established All-Star preceding them on the roster.  And this current season that belief has proven correct, especially as far as Maxey is concerned.  No, the Sixers are not better without Ben.  But the fact that they have remained competitive regardless means that any trade they make is going to upgrade their current roster, hopefully even putting them into contention status.

And that's where the current Simmons' debacle really becomes interesting.  The earlier trade scenarios that were being reported were not overly inspiring.  Recently other sites have come to realize, as I did months ago, that Ben Simmons for CJ McCollum would be a fair trade.  But again, that was months ago.  Since then Dame, the ultimate NBA chuckwagon, seems to have geared down a level or two.  Also, let's just say that CJ himself hasn't responded particularly well when his name finally did come up in Simmons' trade rumors.  But now Indiana has also entered the mix, and it's like oh my goodness.

According to reports, the Pacers have put three quality players on the trade block.  Honestly I don't know much about Caris LaVert besides the fact that, when healthy, he has more or less overachieved  in the NBA.  And as for Myles Turner, I'm currently envisioning him, by some miracle of basketball fate, ending up in Charlotte and instantly thrusting the team into contention status.  But Domantas Sabonis on the Sixers?

Despite being overachievers themselves, without Simmons in the picture, Philadelphia's guard rotation does leave something to be desired.  So ideally, any trade involving Ben would return a high-level guard(s).  But imagine a frontcourt of Tobias Harris (SF), Joel Embiid (C) and Domantas Sabonis (PF).  With a lineup like that, even if little guys like Maxey, Curry and Milton are holding down the backcourt, it doesn't even matter.  That frontline, under my estimation, would even be more formidable than the current iteration of Lebron-AD.

CONCLUSION

So basically things breakdown like this.  Since Ben Simmons hasn't actually played this season and the Sixers are good without him, then it's like anything they get in return from a trade is basically a free upgrade.  So if they are actually able to land even one player that places them back into championship contention, then it's pull the trigger. 

Up until now, no such player was actually made available.  But if Indiana would actually be down for trading Sabonis for Simmons, I don't see, based on my limited knowledge, why Philly wouldn't agree to do so.