Dallas Mavericks: 3 trades to acquire Ben Simmons

Trade for Dallas Mavericks to acquire Ben Simmons: 3. Swap for KP

This is the proposed trade fans are going to see most often. Both players are under 26 and on max contracts. Porzingis also struggled in the playoffs. Simmons has four years left on his deal where KP will be a free agent in 2024.

This trade makes zero sense for the Sixers. Joel Embiid and Kristaps Porzingis cannot play together on the floor. Embiid would have to defend on the perimeter with KP patrolling the paint. It would be a larger struggle to matchup when teams went small. The Unicorn could transform Philly into an elite offense with four spacers around Embiid, but the defensive struggles could outweigh the offensive gain.

Acquiring Simmons would be a departure for the Mavericks too. They have valued shooting and floor spacing around Luka Doncic during his first three years in Dallas. Simmons has attempted 34 3-pointers in his first four NBA seasons combined and made just five. The Mavs would love to add a secondary creator, but Simmons needs to be the primary. He offers little without the ball in his hands unless Dallas is going to transform him into Luka’s pick and roll partner.

No way the Philadelphia 76ers accept a one-for-one swap here. It is going to take more for the Mavericks to get Simmons. He is one year younger and has dealt with injuries the last two seasons. Simmons’ value is not through the roof, but it has to higher than KP’s. Let us move on to a more likely trade.

Next: No. 2