Trade Rumors: Revisiting pros and cons of a Ben Simmons trade

Revisiting pros and cons for Cavs of a Ben Simmons trade: What has changed?

Prior to the start of the season, the Philadelphia 76ers were (at least publicly) set on waiting out Ben Simmons. Whether waiting for a star to come available or waiting for Simmons to return, they outwardly exuded confidence in not rushing anything just because Simmons wanted out.

Then the season began, and absences from Joel Embiid and some close-game slip-ups combined for a mediocre first half of the season. Philly sits sixth in the Eastern Conference, just a half-game out of the play-in and three games away from missing all postseason opportunities entirely. They don’t have a wing stopper, are getting slammed on the boards and seem incapable of getting the ball to Joel Embiid in the post.

That means that if Philadelphia doesn’t want to waste a year of Embiid’s prime outside of contention, they need to make a Simmons trade. Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard haven’t come available and likely won’t until this summer at the earliest; Boston is adamant they aren’t moving Jaylen Brown. Philly has to lower their standards and get back someone who can help them win now.

For Cleveland, they have lost two of their three ball-handlers to season-ending knee injuries. Without Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio the Cavs need playmaking, and they could really use someone in between Evan Mobley and Isaac Okoro defensively to truly become a lockdown unit. Can Simmons meet those needs?