Marc Stein, formerly of ESPN, the New York Times and Dallas Morning News, touched on Philadelphia’s ongoing Ben Simmons saga in a blog post Tuesday, naming the Cavaliers, Kings, Pacers, Raptors and Timberwolves among the point guard’s top suitors. Stein also believes Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey “longs” for Trail Blazers All-Star Damian Lillard, who many suspect would welcome a fresh start after years of enduring playoff disappointments in Portland.
Sixers fans haven’t seemed overly enthused by the much-rumored prospect of acquiring CJ McCollum (who has ties to the area, owing to his four-year stint at Lehigh) for Simmons. Luckily, Morey appears similarly disinterested with Stein insisting that if Philadelphia does pursue a trade with Portland this offseason, it will be for Lillard, not McCollum. As he’s been throughout his brief Sixers tenure, Stein expects Morey to be patient on the Simmons front and won’t trade him without receiving assets of greater or equal value.
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Despite Simmons sharing an agent with LeBron James and Anthony Davis (and the need for a ball-handler with Dennis Shroder headed for free agency), Stein doesn’t see Los Angeles as a likely destination for the embattled 24-year-old. “I don't see Lakerland as a good landing spot for Simmons even if they had the means to make it happen,” reports Stein. “Although Simmons and the Sixers both badly need a fresh start because of all the swirling angst from this season's unhappy ending and years of frustration building up to it, asking Simmons to try to rebuild his game and self-confidence in the league's most withering spotlight seems particularly unwise.”
While Simmons’ teammates were largely supportive of his decision to sit out the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, Stein would argue the three-time All-Star missed an opportunity to “change the conversation” after a dismal performance in the NBA Playoffs. “The close-knit Aussie vets chasing their first medal in men's basketball appeared eager to welcome him in and try to lift him out of his funk,” writes Stein. “Choosing not to play added yet another chapter to a saga many in Australia regard as Simmons’ years-long tease of the national team and its fans.”
“We are proud of Ben and his accomplishments and most Australians would love to see him win a medal for his country," said former NBA center Andrew Bogut, who represented Australia when the Olympics were held in Rio in 2016. “If you can't and won't play, just let it be known and we will all move on. That's my big issue."
The Boomers didn’t need Simmons Monday night, upsetting Team USA in an exhibition game in Las Vegas. Simmons’ 76ers teammate, Matisse Thybulle, contributed 12 points, three steals and two blocks in Australia’s 91-83 win over the Americans, who played without Devin Booker, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holliday, all of whom are still competing in the NBA Finals.
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