Wasn’t Pistons offer to 76ers really an overpay for Ben Simmons?

Did Detroit Pistons actually offer too much to get Ben Simmons?

Now, we do not know the exact details of the first-round draft choice offered the Sixers. Detroit owes Oklahoma CIty a first-rounder in the next few years (basically the first year they are no longer in the lottery). They must fulfill this obligation before they can trade a first to another team.

Undoubtedly, there were some protections attached to it, like 1 thru 12th place, which makes it not quite as attractive as, say, an unprotected 2022 first-rounder would have been.

But a first rounder is always good to get. The76ers replacement at point guard for Simmons, second-year player Tyrese Maxey, was drafted 21st last year, so you never know what will come of it.

Looking at the players the Pistons offered, it  would have been a really good haul for Philly, even if they did not think so at the time. If you watch the 76ers at all (and unlike the Pistons, they are on national TV all the time), you can see the Detroit players could have really plugged some gaping holes on the roster:

• Kelly Olynyk could have served as a solid backup for Joel Embiid at power forward as well as  former Piston Tobias Harris at power forward. Right now, a completely washed Andre Drummond is the backup to ‘The Process’ (as Embiid calls himself) and Harris’ backup is, well, sort of, Georges Niang, the slow-footed three-point specialist from Utah.
• Saddiq Bey was a first team All-NBA Rookie selection as well as making the USA Select team in the summer. He is even better this year, having exploded for 30 points in the win over Sacramento. He would have given the Sixers outside shooting (which with Embiid you always need) plus rebounding and defense at the small forward position. At Bey’s spot, the 76ers are running out a completely washed Danny Green at small forward or Furkan Korkmaz, a three-point shooting specialist who is not good at making three-pointers (only 28.9% this year).
• Of course, the main piece of the trade, from the Pistons end, would be Jerami Grant. Is he as good as Simmons overall? Maybe not. But he can shoot (which Simmons can’t) and would not pass up an easy dunk (unlike Simmons) in a big game. Grant is also as a strong defender. His defense of LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the 2020 Western Conference finals opened a lot of eyes.

Coming up big in the playoffs is something Grant definitely has an advantage of over Simmons. Also, he has an Olympic gold medal. Simmons was suppose to play for Australia in the 2021 Olympics but dropped out after to playoffs to work on his skills.