3. Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta is a prime consolidation candidate with a bevy of good, young and similarly skilled wings:
Kevin Huerter,
Cam Reddish and
De'Andre Hunter. Flipping two of those guys for a player like Simmons, who would further solidify what became a tough defense in the playoffs, makes sense. In a straight-up two-team trade,
Danilo Gallinari, whose shooting and ability to eat clutch possessions as an individual shot creator would help Philly, could be included to make the money work.
Playing Simmons alongside a non-shooting big like
Clint Capela isn't ideal offensively, but Capela isn't used in the same way as Embiid. He isn't a focal point in the post clogging the lane. And Atlanta would be more versatile in terms of its ability to go small: Simmons at the five with
John Collins, a capable shooter at the four, Hunter/Huerter/Reddish at the three, and
Bogdan Bogdanovic alongside
Trae Young in the backcourt. That's a serious five with legit title-contending potential.
All that said, the Hawks also figure to be a Bradley Beal suitor if and when he becomes available. Would they want to prematurely cash in their assets on Simmons? Just for the sake of argument, if they did, the Sixers could benefit from two of Hunter, Huerter and/or Reddish.
Hunter is a terrific defender with 3-point shooting potential who made a huge leap this season in creating shots off the dribble. Huerter is one of the quietest studs in the league. He can shoot the lights out and create for himself and teammates as a secondary playmaker (he makes some high-level passes off the dribble and has a natural court sense).
Philly wouldn't be getting back the lead guard it truly needs, but perhaps that's where a third team could get involved. I'm looking at the
Charlotte Hornets, who could send
Terry Rozierto Philly (with Reddish and Huerter from Atlanta) and get back Tyrese Maxey from the Sixers and Clint Capela from the Hawks. Either way, if Atlanta were to come calling with its trio of young wings, this is a package worth considering for the Sixers depending on what else might be available.