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With the Philadelphia 76ers losing unceremoniously in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, the question of where Ben Simmons’ future has arisen and is at a fever pitch.
Simmons struggled immensely in the highly contested second round matchup against the Hawks. The All-Star point guard averaged 9.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 8.6 assists in 34.5 minutes per game. He also shot a horrendous 33% from the free throw line, which was constantly under scrutiny during the Sixers’ playoff run.
That being said, many believe that for this team to take the next step, they might need to move on the former first overall pick. DraftKings Sportsbook has provided us with the odds on where Simmons will play next season.
We’ll breakdown the top 3 betting favorites for Simmons, along with a sleeper option that could be worth keeping an eye on.
Philadelphia 76ers (+225)
It isn’t out of the realm of possibility that the Sixers ultimately decide not to trade Simmons during the offseason. As things currently stand, if Sixers GM Daryl Morey were to move Simmons, he would want to get back something of significant value in return. Simmons did not have a great postseason, hence his value is pretty low at the moment. Plus, Simmons is signed to a max contract through 2024-25 and the cap hit only goes up each season.
That being said, if Simmons can transform his offensive game over the summer and make the commitment to being a factor and not just a facilitator. It could go a long way in terms of his future in Philadelphia.
Portland Trail Blazers (+450)
The Trail Blazers have the second best odds on this list and could use a player of Simmons’ caliber to upgrade their lackluster. However, if a trade were to happen between Portland and Philadelphia, it would likely involve franchise star guard Damian Lillard or CJ McCollum. The Blazers are going into a new direction this offseason after letting go head coach Terry Stotts.
Lillard has not received the help that needs in Portland to get this team back to the Western Conference Finals or NBA Finals. But trading the dynamic point guard for Simmons would almost signify a rebuild for the Blazers and whoever their new head coach is.
Washington Wizards (+650)
A trade to the Wizards would hinge on if the Sixers could get Bradley Beal in return. A lineup that featured Simmons and Russell Westbrook would not be pretty for Washington. However, it’s a move that could also signify a rebuild as the Wiz would be giving up their longest tenured player in Beal.
Another option would be a Simmons-Westbrook swap as Morey was in Houston with the NBA leader in triple-doubles. But would that trade make the Sixers a better team in the short or long term? That is hard to say at the moment.
Cleveland Cavaliers (+1200)
The Cavaliers are an interesting long shot option for Simmons as they could hypothetically send Kevin Love and Collin Sexton to the Sixers. Cleveland would be receiving an all-world defensive talent in Simmons to pair with Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland. While the Sixers would be getting a power forward who can stretch the floor and rebound in Love, which would move Tobias Harris back to small forward. Then the Sixers would get a young point guard in Sexton, who is aggressive and can score in ISO spots.
This is probably more of a NBA 2K type of trade than something that could realistically happen as the Cavs are nowhere near ready to compete for a playoff spot.
Odds on Ben Simmons 2021-22 team
Philadelphia 76ers: +225
Portland Trail Blazers: +450
Washington Wizards: +650
San Antonio Spurs: +800
Golden State Warriors: +1000
Chicago Bulls: +1200
Oklahoma City Thunder: +1200
Cleveland Cavaliers: +1200
Houston Rockets: +1500
Utah Jazz: +2000
Indiana Pacers: +2000
Toronto Raptors: +2500
Boston Celtics: +2500
ANY OTHER TEAM: +800
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