Daryl Morey is reaching high in deals for Ben Simmons, as he should. The 6-foot-11 playmaker is a rare blend of size, speed, athleticism and skill — at least in some components of his game — and someone who can certainly bolster a team in many ways. You don't want to just give away a guy like that for nothing, and Morey's reported desire for an "All-Star caliber" player in return makes sense...
...but maybe he's aiming a wee bit too high right now. Earlier this week it was reported that Morey had asked for Kyle Lowry from the Raptors in a Ben Simmons deal. Makes sense, but makes a little less sense once you add in Fred VanVleet. And OG Anunoby. And the No. 4 overall pick. The Raptors said no, perhaps predictably, and the NBA Twitter community had something of a field day with it.
On Thursday, we learned of another purported Morey move. This one involved another team that has frequently been named throughout the Ben Simmons sweepstakes and another team near the top of the NBA Draft board, but one with a fairly different situation in terms of the talent available: the Cleveland Cavaliers. That didn't change the alleged mindset of the 76ers' front office, however, and it's not hard to figure that out after you hear the massive haul they sought, according to The Athletic's Zach Harper:
...League sources said brief conversations between Cleveland and Philadelphia were explored, but an asking price of every young player the Cavs value plus multiple first-round picks in the future wasn’t something they’d consider. For now, roll with Mobley and see where else value may exist.
Every young player the Cavs value... so, Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Isaac Okoro, Jarrett Allen — am I missing anybody? And multiple first-round picks on top of that? It seems like the 76ers will have to bolster Simmons' value a little bit more, especially after his disappointing postseason run, if a haul like that could realistically come back.
I hope I look back on this article after the Sixers do get a huge haul and am humiliated by Morey's ability to exchange Simmons for such an exciting package of players and picks. But I just don't know that this will be the case. Whatever that trade may be, it may not take us too long to find out.
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