The Philadelphia 76ers reportedly are targeting Western Conference teams as potential trade partners for All-Star guard Ben Simmons.
Simmons has made it clear that he doesn’t want to play for the Sixers or with Joel Embiid again, but Philadelphia has not been able to trade the disgruntled star yet.
Within this story is obviously the Ben Simmons situation, and while the Sixers said yesterday they want him on the court, they're also targeting the Western Conference for potential trade partners, I'm told. https://t.co/w0K8BdMOFw
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) September 28, 2021
It makes sense that the Sixers wouldn’t want to trade Simmons within the Eastern Conference, as they are trying to make it to the NBA Finals this season.
Having to face Simmons on another Eastern Conference team could make things tougher for the Sixers this coming season.
Philadelphia finished with the No. 1 seed in the East last season, but it was eliminated by the Atlanta Hawks in seven games in the second round of the playoffs.
Simmons struggled in the series, as he averaged just 9.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game while shooting 60.0 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the charity stripe.
Simmons is a great passer and defender, but he lacks scoring aggressiveness and outside shooting.
Philadelphia may try to hold onto Simmons until it finds a deal that it deems worthy of moving the three-time All-Star.
