Sixers Star Ben Simmons ‘Open’ To Trade To Kings

Ben Simmons is seeking a trade and the 76ers’ star guard/forward would have no issue if he landed with the Kings, according to David Aldridge of The Athletic.

The Kings have been a rumored landing spot for Simmons, along with several others, including the Cavaliers, Spurs, Pistons, Pacers, Raptors and Timberwolves.

“I’ve written this on Simmons to Sac before, and the rationale still holds,” Aldridge wrote. “Simmons is an elite defensive player. He’s an elite passer. He has four years left on his deal. (He would have no problem going to Sacramento, I’m told, so strong is his desire to get out of Philadelphia.)”

As an aside, the 76ers are said to prefer to trade Simmons to a Western Conference team, a description of which the Kings meet.

That said, The Athletic’s Sam Amick noted that talks between the 76ers and Kings ended “months ago,” and the sides do not seem close to revisiting those negotiations.

“Sources indicated that Philadelphia hasn’t budged on a trade, as they continue to hold out for a deal involving Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal,” according to RealGM.

Meanwhile, I discussed Cleveland’s involvement in Simmons talks in the latest Cavs on the Break podcast.

Simmons, 25, has refused to report to training camp and is sticking to his stance of ever playing another game for Philadelphia. The Sixers, for their part, have been trying to trade Simmons since the end of last season.

While it’s hard to tell if any of those teams has an inside track, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that agent Rich Paul tried to assist the 76ers in receiving in five-player trade package for Simmons in a three-team deal — but the 76ers’ asking price was too high.

Meanwhile, sources told Hoops Wire the 76ers aren’t as interested in draft picks as they are younger players who could help them win now, such as Cavs guard and leading scorer Collin Sexton or Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon.

Most sources believe it will take a multi-team trade to move Simmons, as opposed to a straight-up deal between two teams.

“Offers for Simmons have thus far included draft picks or young players, not anything a contender like Philadelphia would want,” reported Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. “And since nearly half the league is ineligible to be dealt until December 15, teams that might be willing to offer a veteran can’t do that yet.”

O’Connor added that “reasonable” offers for Simmons have already been made, but “acceptable” offers may not come until as late as January.