Lakers Rumors: Possible trade packages for the second overall pick
By Jason Reed
Ben Simmons has never stepped foot on the NBA court in a regular season game, adding to the long list of bad luck the 76ers have gotten recently. With the third overall selection already in the bag, the 76ers may look to go all in for this draft and could use last year’s number one overall pick to do the bargaining.
If the Lakers were to acquire Simmons they would be acquiring everything they seek for in Ball. Simmons is a dynamic playmaker, can get his on the boards, and can be a good scorer. Simmons is not the best shooter in the world, but he can score when given the opportunity and can make this Lakers unit all around a better squad.
Plus, the Lakers would effectively be getting rid of the massive contract of Luol Deng. Deng is owed an average of $18 million a year for four more years, and if the Lakers wanted to add star power down the line they need to get rid of Deng. Perhaps bringing in Simmons, and getting rid of Deng, could be enough to convince a guy like DeMarcus Cousins to join the Lakers next offseason.
As for the 76ers, well, they would not be in bad shape either. Joel Embiid and Dario Saric have proven to be dynamic big men, with Jahil Okafor coming together. The 76ers could then add the likes of Josh Jackson and Lonzo Ball to this already young unit, and the 76ers would have four young starting guys that can be elite.