The big drama in the NBA entering training camp, is the fate of Philadelphia 76ers all-star guard Ben Simmons. A report says there is a ‘mystery’ small-market team that has made an offer for Simmons. One outlet says it might be the Detroit Pistons.
Where in the world will Ben Simmons be playing? The three-time All-Star, has made it clear it will not be with his current team, the Philadelphia 76ers.
While there has been plenty of speculation about what spot Simmons will end up, the Detroit Pistons have been largely left out of the conversation … until now.
Could Detroit Pistons be ‘unknown’ team making offer for Ben Simmons?
A little spice was added to the Ben Simmons talk when ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, on the ‘Scoop’ podcast discussed the situation.
According to NBC Sports Philadelphia, here is what Windhorst said:
"“I don’t mean to be evasive, I’ve just got to be careful with what I say,” said Windhorst. “I know of at least one other team who is a small-market team, that has made an offer for him and has a lot of interest in him. It just hasn’t gotten public yet.”"
NBC Sports Philadelphia is the home network for 76ers games, so they might have a little more insight than most media sites.
Since most small-market teams have already been linked to Simmons trade talk in some fashon, NBC Sports’ Adam Herman speculated this ‘mystery’ team has to be either be the Pistons or New Orleans Pelicans.
While mock trades are always fun to think about, neither team has been talked up much for being a possible landing spot for Simmons.
With New Orleans having Brandon Ingram, who was selected No. 2 overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, after Simmons went first. It would be kind of funny, if he was swapped to Philly for Simmons.
As for the Pistons, this was NBC Sports Philadelphia’s proposed trade:
I am not too sure about this deal coming off as constructed. Detroit has shown no desire to move Grant. It would be a three-time all-star for a borderline all-star candidate, so value-wise, the Pistons would have the advantage.
Giving up Cory Joseph is no problem and not too bothered by the 2023 draft pick (although Detroit also owes the Thunder a first-rounder, so might get complicated) as one would hope, by then, Detroit will be in the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference.
Also, one would think in any trade for Simmons, Detroit would include Killian Hayes in the deal. If you have coming in a defensive-oriented, great passing but poor shooting point guard in Simmons, there really is no need for Hayes, they kind of do the same thing.
A Ben Simmons-Cade Cunningham backcourt would be intriguing. The passing would be superb and no wondering about the fit: Cade shoots, Ben passes because Ben doesn’t shoot.
Is Detroit the ‘unknown’ team pursuing Simmons? On the face of it, it is hard to see but, Pistons general manager Troy Weaver always says he wants to ’empty his clip’, in search of improving the team.
It certainly would be an unexpected move if the Detroit Pistons traded for Ben Simmons. But Weaver does move in mysterious ways.