Ben Simmons formally demands trade

[Gman]

In fairness, Sam Amico doesn't know shit from shat

I heard from Joel Embiid's camp that Ben Simmons is a pussy.

 

[trojanfan12]

I don't think it is similar to the Westbrook situation.

The Nets need to decide whether they can accept the possibility of losing Harden for nothing in the offseason. The Sixers need to decide whether they can live with another season of not being a title contender this season.

The Lakers would LOVE to dump Westbrook. But doing so would be extremely punitive for them an almost guarantee that they won't be serious title contenders this year. They have no choice but to hold off till the off season.

Except that trading Harden for Simmons doesn't make the Sixers contenders this year. It doesn't move them past the Bucks, Heat or Nets.

 

[shopson67]

I disagree. If Simmons has done anything at all to stay in shape, he should be able to effect them enough to still be better than the Sixers. Simmons hasn't missed time because of any physical injury, so I would expect that he'd be good enough to fit in pretty quickly.

Sixers without Harden are already 3 games ahead of the Nets. Kyrie may soon be freed to play at home, but Durant could still be out another month. What is Simmons fitting in with? The team that has lost 9 straight?

 

[bksballer89]

What evidence is there that Morey is like Isiah?

Thoughts?

 

[flyerhawk]

 

[trojanfan12]

I'm not so sure the return is that much better next year for the Lakers. Who is looking for a $47M expiring contract to start the season, punting the season right from the start? Plus, that would mean another season starting with a completely new roster trying to gel.

They're likely going to be starting over with a completely new roster anyway. A team that would look to take on a $47 million expiring contract would be a team that is going into the season knowing they are unlikely to make the playoffs, want someone the fans will show up to watch and want cap space for 2023.

For the record, I think that ultimately, the best thing for the Lakers may be to just bite the bullet and keep Westbrook through next year too. Between him and Lebron, that would give them $91 million coming off the books (plus whatever smaller deals may expire) to use for a rebuild around AD who will only be 30 years old.

Also, I don't want Westbrook moved just to move him. If it doesn't improve the team (and "addition by subtraction" isn't good enough), then it's kind of pointless, imo.

 

[trojanfan12]

Sixers without Harden are already 3 games ahead of the Nets. Kyrie may soon be freed to play at home, but Durant could still be out another month. What is Simmons fitting in with? The team that has lost 9 straight?

lol

Because there's no way the Nets will be better with Kyrie playing more and getting KD back. The Nets just need to get to the playoffs healthy and relatively on the same page top be a threat coming out of the East.

 

[shopson67]

lol

Because there's no way the Nets will be better with Kyrie playing more and getting KD back. The Nets just need to get to the playoffs healthy and relatively on the same page top be a threat coming out of the East.

Sure, those things could happen, but how far behind the field will they be by the time KD comes back? They'll likely be without home court and playing top seeds each round.

 

[flyerhawk]

They're likely going to be starting over with a completely new roster anyway. A team that would look to take on a $47 million expiring contract would be a team that is going into the season knowing they are unlikely to make the playoffs, want someone the fans will show up to watch and want cap space for 2023.

For the record, I think that ultimately, the best thing for the Lakers may be to just bite the bullet and keep Westbrook through next year too. Between him and Lebron, that would give them $91 million coming off the books (plus whatever smaller deals may expire) to use for a rebuild around AD who will only be 30 years old.

Also, I don't want Westbrook moved just to move him. If it doesn't improve the team (and "addition by subtraction" isn't good enough), then it's kind of pointless, imo.

Yeah this is the best approach for the Lakers. Take your medicine and hope that AD, Lebron and Russ can get healthy and start to mesh together for the playoffs. At most, the Lakers almost certainly only have one more year of Lebron.

 

[trojanfan12]

Yeah this is the best approach for the Lakers. Take your medicine and hope that AD, Lebron and Russ can get healthy and start to mesh together for the playoffs.

I'm starting to think that last year and this year have been the basketball gods making the Lakers pay penance for the last title. I just heard on Cowherd that, in the bubble, the Lakers were the only veteran team that improved. Every other veteran team got worse (I remember several of us on this board talking about it), while the younger teams actually got better.

Someone involved with the Lakers obviously made a deal somewhere along the way and now they're paying for it. lol

At most, the Lakers almost certainly only have one more year of Lebron.

At the least, it should be only one more year of playing at this level (and at this price). Ideally, if he decides to stay beyond next year, it will be at a lower salary and with a more limited role (at least as far as minutes). But, as I've said, I gave up on predicting Lebron's decline about 6 years ago. lol

 

[flyerhawk]

At the least, it should be only one more year of playing at this level (and at this price). Ideally, if he decides to stay beyond next year, it will be at a lower salary and with a more limited role (at least as far as minutes). But, as I've said, I gave up on predicting Lebron's decline about 6 years ago. lol

He's a freak of nature but he's not playing at this level at 39 years of age.

 

[Iggloo]

Bye Bye Benny. Can't wait to put you on the line with the game on the line in the playoffs!

 

[wildturkey]

Told yall Simmons was still an asset and Morey was wise to sit on him for what he wanted and not the first deal he could get. Now I figured he'd be waiting out for Dame, but this is just as well. This is why you don't panic. Things can change fast in the NBA nowadays.

 

[flyerhawk]

Told yall Simmons was still an asset and Morey was wise to sit on him for what he wanted and not the first deal he could get. Now I figured he'd be waiting out for Dame, but this is just as well. This is why you don't panic. Things can change fast in the NBA nowadays.

I would love to go back into the Simmons thread and bring up the various quotes from people saying that the Sixers should just dump Simmons for whatever they can get.

 

[wildturkey]

I would love to go back into the Simmons thread and bring up the various quotes from people saying that the Sixers should just dump Simmons for whatever they can get.

Yeah, I totally get that Simmons completely embarrassed himself in the playoffs and that his shooting is suspect. But at the same time, he's in his early to mid 20s, just starting his prime. He's an elite level NBA defender that can guard 1 thru 5. He has great passing vision and can attack the basket, still scoring double digits without shooting. He's basically a younger version of Draymond Green who just happens to run the point more often than Green does. That's a very valuable piece to have, especially if you surround him with the right teammates. With Durant and a full time Irving, you're basically recreating a version of the Warriors Curry/Thompson/Green combo but with Irving/Durant/Simmons

 

[Shanemansj13]

My trade prediction was: Harden for Simmons, Curry & pick(s). I actually was undershooting, they got Drummond too so I did well LOL

 

[trojanfan12]

He's a freak of nature but he's not playing at this level at 39 years of age.

You're probably right. But I would have bet against him playing at this level at 37...yet here we are. lol

 

[flyerhawk]

You're probably right. But I would have bet against him playing at this level at 37...yet here we are. lol

The problem is that he isn't superman anymore. He misses a lot of games due to injuries. Which is likely to continue to get worse.

 

[Iggloo]

I am old enough to remember when some people in this thread scoffed at the Sixers getting anything for Ben Simmons. Looks like Morey played his cards right.

 

[fightinfunbags]

Let’s all take a minute of reflection. This was an epic thread. 188 pages of speculation and everybody talking out their ass. What a ride. What a fucking ride!