Ben Simmons and the Detroit Pistons have been connected all season in the trade rumor that just won’t die.
The Pistons reportedly offered Jerami Grant, Saddiq Bey, Kelly Olynyk and a first-round pick for Simmons earlier in the season, an offer that the 76ers weren’t all that excited about according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report:
The Jerami Grant sweepstakes may prove to be the most competitive market for any player this NBA trade season. Latest details on possible landing spots in Washington, Minnesota, Los Angeles and many more at @BR_NBA: https://t.co/TRO556pLjd
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) January 18, 2022
I doubt that offer would move them now, as both Grant and Olynyk have been hurt. There is also the tricky business of trading a first-round pick, as the Pistons still owe one to OKC and can’t trade a future one unless they were able to get the Thunder to remove the protections.
There is a lot stopping such a deal from ever happening and a lot of Pistons’ fans aren’t sold on Ben Simmons anyway and for good reason.
He has chosen to sit out the season rather than play, which is a big red flag for a team that has talked a lot about character in their team building.
Philly also seems reluctant to move Simmons unless there is a star player coming back and may fancy themselves suitors for someone like James Harden or Damian Lillard, either of which would move the needle more for them than the Pistons platter.
In other words, this deal is VERY unlikely to happen unless Philly gets desperate to move him before the deadline in order not to waste another MVP-caliber season from superstar Joel Embiid.
But that doesn’t mean the Detroit Pistons shouldn’t pick up the phone.
If the Detroit Pistons trade Jerami Grant, they need to get talent, not hope
There have been a ton of offers floated around for Jerami Grant, and to be honest, most of them are not that exciting.
Most of what I have seen represents the “Talent for Hope” type of trade that string fans along but may not actually lead to a better team.
I can imagine a promising future for the Pistons with Grant, and would be reluctant to trade him for a poo poo platter of young players and picks that are nothing but smoke and potential.
I’d rather just keep Grant, who wants to be in Detroit and will still have value next season, maybe even more considering he is not even playing right now. If the Pistons are going to move Grant, I would rather them swing for the fences on talent that can actually help them win games or has real high-ceiling potential.
The Chicago deal that has been talked about is one of them, as Patrick Williams has already shown his potential in his All-Rookie season, is still very young and would undoubtedly be a top-10 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, so the Pistons would essentially be adding another high lottery pick to go along with their own 2022 draft pick.
The other player that moves me is Ben Simmons.
Look, I get that some fans don’t like him, and I already mentioned his red flags, to which you can probably add his reluctance to shoot from 3-point range.
I am not one of the fans who is obsessed with every guy in the league shooting 3-point shots, and Simmons is a legit talent who is one of the best defenders in the NBA, a skilled playmaker and a guy who has already made the All-NBA team.
I also love his fit with Cade Cunningham, and a backcourt of him and Simmons is something to get excited about whether you like the guy or not.
It’s unlikely to happen anyway, but if I were Troy Weaver I would definitely give Philly a call if they still haven’t moved him at the deadline to see if their desire to win a title now outweighs their need for a superstar in return for Simmons.