5 potential Ben Simmons trade ideas as deadline awaits in late March

Sixers trade: Ben Simmons
Bulls trade: Zach LaVine, Thaddeus Young, 2022 first-round pick (CHI: top-10 protected), 2024 first-round pick (CHI)

The Bulls don't really have an identity right now, but Simmons would give them one. Quite frankly, a player of Simmons' elite defensive caliber and offensive facilitation skills could give any team an identity, unless that team has — and should be built around — a player like Embiid.

The Bulls have a solid foundation already and could build around Simmons. Coby White, Patrick Williams, Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. would give Simmons a decent supporting cast to start, and Otto Porter Jr.'s expiring contract could expedite the rebuild this offseason. Also, the Bulls not having to give up their 2021 first-round pick — one that will likely be a lottery selection — is a key factor here.

In return, the Sixers would get a dominant scorer and, more importantly, a shot creator in LaVine, whose 27.0 points-per-game average ranks eighth in the NBA as of Wednesday morning. A reunion with Young could give Philadelphia a stronger backup forward to Tobias Harris than Mike Scott. And some draft capital could suffice to sweeten the deal and allow the Sixers to give up their all-NBA talent.

Sixers trade: Ben Simmons, Matisse Thybulle
Nuggets trade: Michael Porter Jr., Gary Harris, 2021 first-round pick, 2023 first-round pick

The Nuggets are finally starting to find their groove after a 6-7 start to the season. They've won four straight, including a two-game road sweep over the Suns, and have scored the fourth-most points per game in the league.

Porter has played a large part in that, averaging 18.4 points per game. However, his defensive woes are apparent. Harris has seemingly taken a step back and isn't living up to his lucrative contract, so he could potentially find his footing elsewhere.

While the Nuggets already have a star oversized facilitator in Nikola Jokic and a star guard in Jamal Murray, Simmons' versatility — especially on the defensive end — could help thrust the Nuggets back into the conversation as the best team in the West. Adding Thybulle to would give the Nuggets' bench more depth and help fortify a subpar defense.

In Philly, Porter would be a shot creator and unconscious 3-point shooter (he's hitting 47.7% on 6.3 attempts per game from long range) that the Sixers need. Like LaVine, he could take scoring into his own hands, especially when Embiid is off the floor or taking a game off.

Sixers trade: Ben Simmons, Dwight Howard (or Tony Bradley, preferably, but not as likely)
Blazers trade: CJ McCollum, Harry Giles, Anfernee Simons

This one would obviously take some time, as McCollum recently fractured his left foot and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. In the event that he recovers some time in February or early March and is ready to roll once again and if Simmons' offense is still clunky and the 76ers start to fall back down to earth, a swap could be in order.

What won't be healed in four weeks is Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic's broken wrist, which will keep him sidelined for at least seven more weeks. The Blazers may need to trade for a center before that, but if they continue to lean on Enes Kanter, Nassir Little and Harry Giles for minutes, they could well fall out of the playoff race. This isn't something they'll want with Damian Lillard in his prime as he once again puts up incredible statistics.

Simmons helps on the defensive end — even star duos like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George may have trouble against Simmons and Robert Covington — and Howard could man the paint as a much better defensive option than Kanter.

The payoff for the Sixers is obvious. McCollum, so long as his foot injury doesn't linger, could continue the red-hot start to his season and give the Sixers a lethal shot creator and ball-handler. Giles could become Embiid's backup right away, potentially raising his role and value as he's set to enter unrestricted free agency.

Sixers trade: Ben Simmons, Furkan Korkmaz
Pelicans trade: Lonzo Ball, Eric Bledsoe, Josh Hart, 2021 first-round pick (NOP: top-10 protected), 2023 first-round pick

The Pelicans are open to shopping Lonzo Ball, NBA insider Shams Charania reported, and though he's a player of a similar mold as Simmons, he's not nearly close to the same level. Can you imagine a trio of Simmons, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson? That's a scary thought, with plenty of time on their contracts available to jell over the next few seasons.

On the other side, the Sixers replace Simmons with Ball, who's a better shooter but a worse defender and less of an all-around unicorn and talented player. But they'd also get Bledsoe, who's shooting a career-high 40.6% from deep to this point, can create his own shot and was the a starting guard for a title-contending Milwaukee Bucks team for the past three seasons. And Hart is no slouch either, providing capable defense, a lot of bench minutes and shooting abilities. More than 60% of his career field-goal attempts are from 3-point range.

Admittedly, this isn't the most exciting return, but it might help bring the Sixers a more Embiid-focused approach, and it supplies them with solid draft capital as well. Another issue with this is that both Ball and Hart are restricted free agents following this season, and though losing Simmons' contract clears up some room, the Sixers would still have to pay up if they don't want to lose these new additions for nothing.

76ers trade: Ben Simmons (to SAS), Matisse Thybulle (to WAS), 2021 first-round pick (PHI to WAS)
Wizards trade: Bradley Beal (to PHI), Ish Smith (to PHI), Moritz Wagner (to SAS)
Spurs trade: LaMarcus Aldridge (to WAS), Patty Mills (to WAS), 2021 first-round pick (to WAS), 2023 first-round pick (to WAS)

In other words...

76ers receive: Bradley Beal and Ish Smith
Wizards receive: LaMarcus Aldridge, Patty Mills, Matisse Thybulle, 76ers 2021 first-round draft pick, Spurs 2021 and 2023 first-round draft picks
Spurs receive: Ben Simmons and Moritz Wagner

Ok, got all that? Here's my attempt to justify this deal on all three sides, because I couldn't stand to think of a Simmons-Westbrook backcourt in Washington. It just doesn't make sense.

For the 76ers, it's obvious -- Beal. Smith is a former 76er and a serviceable option to help fill the gap running the point that's now left behind from Simmons' void. And the pick they're giving to the Wizards probably won't turn into anything great, considering the strong start the Sixers have had on the shoulders of Embiid's MVP-caliber season.

For the Spurs, they get Simmons and Wagner to join their young core of Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, Lonnie Walker, Keldon Johnson and others. It's still a good enough team to be competitive now, but the Spurs don't have realistic title aspirations in a stacked Western conference. They'll have a decent shot at the playoffs, so their first-round pick might fall out of the lottery. Forfeiting three multiple draft picks is worth it when you're getting a player of Simmons' game-changing caliber in return.

For the Wizards, it's tough to stomach that they'd give up Beal. But by taking on the expiring contracts of Aldridge and Mills, plus getting rid of Beal's three-year commitment, the Wizards will free up a mountain of cap space for the 2021 offseason. Without Beal in the picture, whose 2021-'22 cap figure is $34.5 million, the Wizards' total salaries would amount to $87.9 million (with Thybulle included). That's around $25 million below the projected salary cap, meaning they could retool around Westbrook if they want to or use it however they choose. They'd get three first-round draft picks. And they'd get a young, budding defensive ace in Thybulle.