Philadelphia continues to search for a Ben Simmons deal but they are driving a hard bargain. The Sixers is looking for a massive haul, one league executive tells Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.
“Forget a Harden haul,” one exec close to the situation told Mannix. “They want what Boston got for KG and Pierce.”
Prior to the draft, it was reported that the front office had trade discussions with the Warriors, asking Bob Myers & Co. for a package that included James Wiseman, Andrew Wiggins, the No. 7 and No. 14 overall picks (became Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody) in the 2021 draft as well as two future first-round picks.
The team asked for four first-rounders, three pick swaps, and a young player in talks with the Spurs for Simmons, according to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor (podcast link). Philadelphia reportedly wanted Kyle Lowry (via sign-and-trade), Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and the No. 4 overall pick in last week’s draft from the Raptors in exchange for the three-time All-Star.
There’s a sense around the league that finding a Simmons deal could take some time and sources tell FortyEightMinutes that the 25-year-old could ultimately end up staying with Philadelphia through at least the start of the season.
More From Philadelphia
- The Sixers have their eyes on Damian Lillard, though as Mannix notes (same piece), the Blazers haven’t given any indication that they’ll be trading their All-Star point guard. For what it’s worth, there hasn’t been any indication that Portland will strike a deal for C.J. McCollum either.
- While there were rumblings that the Sixers were having discussions with other teams about Tobias Harris leading up to free agency, Kyle Neubeck of The Philly Voice hears that those reports are simply not true. Neubeck writes that Harris’ name was brought up briefly as part of the James Harden negotiations last season and it’s likely that the rumors are a result of outdated intel.
- Philadelphia remains in pursuit of Kyle Lowry, though the point guard appears likely to ink a deal with the Heat once free agency begins.
