Should Cleveland Cavaliers go all-in on a Ben Simmons trade? Do they have the pieces to make it work?

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CLEVELAND, Ohio — How a lot is an excessive amount of for Ben Simmons?

That’s a query the Cleveland Cavaliers — and numerous different groups — are at the moment asking.

Simmons, who was rumored to be the centerpiece of a James Harden deal final season earlier than Brooklyn swooped in, desires out of Philadelphia. That’s been his stance since late August, driving it house with a plan to sit out the start of training camp next week. Nonetheless, the 76ers appear intent on attempting to restore the fractured relationship, with head coach Doc Rivers showing on TV Wednesday, expressing his desire to change Simmons’ mind.

Within the meantime, 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey is on the lookout for what one supply described as a “king’s ransom” for Simmons.

Many across the league consider Philadelphia is being affected person, hoping for an additional star to develop into accessible (Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Zach LaVine), wanting to make use of Simmons because the nucleus of that deal. If there’s no roadmap there — or a staff fails to match Morey’s demand — the 2 sides may stay in an ungainly holding sample. That is an unprecedented state of affairs.

On one hand, that hefty asking worth is smart. Simmons is a 25-year-old three-time All-Star with Defensive Participant of the 12 months potential that received’t develop into a free agent till after the 2024-25 season — a measure of safety for a franchise comfy along with his price ticket. At 6-foot-10, with distinctive imaginative and prescient and elite playmaking potential, he instantly provides any staff an id.

However, these energy strikes are sometimes reserved for gamers a degree or two above Simmons.

There are reliable flaws. It begins along with his shot. Simmons’ poor efficiency in an Jap Convention semifinals loss to the Atlanta Hawks was punctuated with a call to cross up a wide-open dunk and an total lack of aggressiveness within the fourth quarter. It led to questions on whether or not the Sixers may win a title with a high-usage flawed creator or if he might be on the ground late in video games when opponents deployed the Hack-a-Ben technique, purposefully sending the 59.7% profession foul shooter to the stripe.

Despite the fact that Cleveland and Philadelphia haven’t had detailed talks in weeks, and the entrance workplace is pessimistic about assembling the successful bid, the Cavs proceed to watch the state of affairs and stay excited by buying Simmons — on the proper worth.

The final half makes any Cleveland-centric Simmons dialog difficult. Oftentimes disgruntled stars need to go away dropping conditions. Buying and selling that participant would then develop into the launching level right into a full rebuild, with the vendor demanding future belongings (draft picks or younger gamers) in return. That’s not the state of affairs in Philadelphia. The Sixers have title hopes. They’re on the lookout for quick assist — or a secondary path to it.

So, which Cavalier aligns with Philly’s win-now imaginative and prescient — and has a sufficiently big contract?

A lot of the chatter has centered on Kevin Love. A big half is Cleveland’s need to maneuver him. However on this uncommon occasion his bloated $31 million wage is considerably of an asset, almost matching Simmons’ $33 million quantity. It’s logical to begin hypothetical offers there. Now simply discover the opposite items to entice Philadelphia — or a 3rd or fourth staff. Then once more, although Love’s flooring spacing and taking pictures would appear to be a very good match subsequent to heart Joel Embiid, Love’s nonetheless seen leaguewide as a unfavorable asset, which implies Philadelphia would wish an incentive enhance, forcing the Cavs so as to add further items in that deal.

By way of wage filler, Ricky Rubio’s $17.8 million expiring contract can be far more interesting and it’s now previous Sept. 10 — the date through which his wage might be aggregated in a commerce. The Cavs like Rubio. They’re enthusiastic about his management and playmaking potential. However getting somebody like Simmons means parting with valued gamers. Rubio or Love would virtually actually must be the place to begin, as Jarrett Allen and Lauri Markkanen can’t legally be traded till December, about two months into the season — offered the Cavs had been keen to go that route.

Sources preserve the Cavs don’t have any “untouchables.” Nonetheless, prized rookie Evan Mobley and rising level guard Darius Garland are closest to that designation. The chance of both participant being moved is extremely low. That leaves Collin Sexton, Isaac Okoro and future first-rounders to assist cajole a Simmons deal.

In response to sources, the 76ers would need restricted or no protections on these firsts in hopes of flipping them for an All-Star caliber participant across the deadline. That, alone, can be extremely dangerous for Cleveland — a still-rebuilding staff that’s received 60 mixed video games over the past three years and is just projected to win round 26 this season. Even the addition of Simmons wouldn’t change the 2021-22 forecast that a lot, because the Cavs wouldn’t have sufficient short-term floor-spacers or shooters across the restricted Simmons. Any deal would imply rejiggering the roster fairly a bit.

On condition that, it’s honest to wonder if Simmons is the form of participant value a number of picks and gamers, plus the opposite dominoes that would wish to fall (additions/subtractions) to ultimately make all of it work.

And if the Cavs decide he’s that man, the one value going all-in on, it’s additionally honest to marvel if a hypothetical bundle with Love, Sexton and a pair of protected first-round picks can be the perfect the 76ers may do.

Would a Portland supply centered on CJ McCollum and different items be extra interesting? What if Sacramento was keen to incorporate De’Aaron Fox or Tyrese Haliburton, one thing they reportedly received’t do in the meanwhile? How about if the Minnesota Timberwolves — now being run by Sachin Gupta who beforehand labored underneath Morey in Houston and was the Sixers VP of basketball operations through the Sam Hinkie period — embody D’Angelo Russell and extra? Would the Bulls half with LaVine? Golden State may piece collectively an intriguing supply that threads the short-term/long-term needle.

Trades take two … or three … or 4. Morey isn’t the sort to drop an asking worth due to ancillary components. Is Simmons value it? What’s the ceiling for a staff with Simmons as the focus?Do the Cavs have what Philly desires? Can they discover one other staff to assist facilitate — although coaching camp is days away and extra gamers develop into trade-eligible in just a few months? How a lot would Cleveland be keen to sweeten the supply if talks superior?

Within the case of Simmons, there are extra questions than solutions.

For now, the Cavs ought to wait. That’s what Simmons — and the 76ers — appear ready to do.