Could the Dallas Mavericks trade for Ben Simmons? Will they?

The Dallas Mavericks are still reeling from Jalen Brunson leaving to join the New York Knicks in free agency. He had a breakout fourth NBA season and was the second-leading scorer on a team that reached the Western Conference Finals before departing for the Big Apple. It was another Mavs swing and miss in free agency, but this one stung a bit more because Brunson was a homegrown player.

Dallas has done little to replace JB. They traded for Christian Wood, who could theoretically be the team’s second-leading scorer, but he cannot handle the ball and make plays. The Mavericks signed JaVale McGee with their mid-level exception. He helps solve their rebounding and rim protection woes, but the seven-footer is a role player. Dallas drafted Jaden Hardy, but a playoff team counting on a rookie does not seem wise.

If the Mavs want another ball-handler, it will have to come via trade. Kyrie Irving is available, but the seven-time All-Star is not the ideal fit in Dallas. The Nets are facing turmoil right now, and they could look to trade Ben Simmons. Does that present an opportunity for the Mavericks?

Could the Dallas Mavericks trade for Ben Simmons? Will they?

Simmons has not played in an NBA game since June 2021, and that night is difficult to forget. The 6’11 point guard passed up an open shot at the rim in a tight game that helped eliminate his Sixers. Then, came the holdout and a post-trade back injury that kept the 25-year-old on the sidelines for the entire 2021-2022 season.

Will Ben Simmons play a game for the Brooklyn Nets? His contract complicates a Kevin Durant trade, which could force his current team to move him. Could the Dallas Mavericks take Simmons at a discount? Let us take a look.

Will the Brooklyn Nets trade Ben Simmons? How do Dallas Mavericks factor in?

Simmons’ trade value is at an all-time low after missing an entire season and experiencing confidence issues the last time he was on the floor, but the Nets may need to trade him to maximize the return they can get for Kevin Durant.

KD wants out of Brooklyn, and the Nets do not want to rebuild. They want to put together the most competitive roster possible, which means trading Durant for a young star.

Simmons limits the list of players the Nets can acquire because he is on a Designated Rookie extension. NBA teams are only allowed to have one player they acquired via trade on that type of deal. Keeping Simmons makes names like Donovan Mitchell, Bam Adebayo, and Trae Young ineligible to be dealt to Brooklyn in the return for Durant.

Will the Nets trade Simmons, so they can get back another Designated Rookie for KD? They are exploring those scenarios, especially after he missed an entire season.

The Dallas Mavericks need a player like Simmons. He can handle the ball, make plays, and play stout perimeter defense. The 25-year-old’s jumper is non-existent, but he is otherwise a perfect fit next to Luka Doncic when healthy. Do the Mavs have enough to trade for him?

Could the Dallas Mavericks trade for Ben Simmons?

The Sixers gave up two first-round picks, Simmons, Seth Curry, and Andre Drummond to land James Harden from the Nets in February. Holding out drove the three-time All-Star’s value down, and he has not played since. The Nets may have to settle for a first-round pick or two and the contracts to match his $35.4 million salary.

Simmons has three seasons and more than $113 million left on his contract, which could be looked at two ways. The team acquiring him has a 25-year-old All-Star locked in for three seasons or Simmons is owed $113 million and has played just 115 games in the last three seasons combined.

The Mavericks want a second star next to Luka Doncic, and this could be the ultimate buy-low opportunity. Brooklyn would never deal Simmons with his value at rock bottom if this Kevin Durant trade request was not hanging over them. They need to nail the KD deal, and that could mean shipping Simmons elsewhere at a discount.

The Dallas Mavericks could offer multiple first-round picks for Simmons, but they do not have much else. Would Dallas be the high bidder? Fans can debate that, but his value could be so low that the Mavericks may be the top offer.

Will the Dallas Mavericks trade for Ben Simmons this offseason?

In a normal set of circumstances, the answer would be no. Dallas does not have the asset to acquire a three-time All-Star and one of the best defenders in the NBA. Look at the haul the Jazz just landed for Rudy Gobert, but things are different here.

Simmons has not played in more than one year, and there is no guarantee that he is an All-NBA caliber player when he returns to the court. The Mavs bought low on a young All-Star, who had missed more than one year of action back in 2019. Dealing for Kristaps Porzingis did not work out, but this is a new front office. Simmons is a Nike guy that is not coming off a significant knee injury.

There is a non-zero chance the Mavericks acquire Ben Simmons this summer. They are more likely to land Simmons than Kevin Durant. What are the odds? Two percent seems right. There is no guarantee the Nets trade the 25-year-old. The odds of Simmons switching teams is about 40 percent. The Mavs outbidding the other 28 teams in the league for Simmons lowers their odds of acquiring him to about two percent.

The Brooklyn Nets are at the center of the NBA until they decide on what to do with Kevin Durant. The trade or lack thereof will have massive ripple effects across the league and could result in something wild like the Dallas Mavericks landing Ben Simmons. After all the drama and player movement in Brooklyn since Durant’s arrival, all fans can do is wait and watch to see how this plays out.