Rockets Have ‘Serious’ Interest In Ben Simmons Trade

The Rockets are “seriously interested” in a trade for Ben Simmons and may be looking to acquire the 76ers star/guard forward ahead of training camp, sources told Evan Dammarell of Fear The Sword.

Simmons has been at the center of trade rumors all offseason, following a subpar playoff outing vs. the Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. He reportedly intends to sit out camp at the end of the month rather than join the 76ers.

Meanwhile, the Rockets and point guard John Wall have reached an agreement that Wall will sit out while the front office seeks a trade. Per Dammarell, Wall would be headed to the 76ers in a potential Simmons trade.

Granted, any trade involving Wall will be difficult and is likely to include multiple picks, given his recent injury history, age and large contract.

“I think trading John Wall, with two years left and over $90 million is almost impossible unless the Rockets, all of a sudden decide that they’re willing to attach a number of first round picks and I don’t see that scenario,” NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski recently said on ESPN. “I think he’s going to be in Houston a while unless he’s willing to take money and agree to a buyout, but he doesn’t want to do that right now.”

The Clippers, Heat and Pistons have also been linked to Wall, with the Clippers reportedly already discussing a potential trade. Along with the Rockets, Simmons has been linked to the Cavaliers, Kings, Timberwolves, Trail Blazers and others.

“I know of at least one … small market team that has made an offer and has a lot of interest and it just hasn’t gotten public yet,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said recently.

Simmons, 25, would be open to playing for Cleveland, per multiple Hoops Wire sources and various outside reports, including Dammarell.

“They’re interested and you cannot count them out,” a rival executive recently told Hoops Wire of the Cavs. (Related Dribbles.)

Of course, there has been talk recently that the 76ers may hang on to Simmons if they can’t find a deal to their liking.

“Vice president of basketball operations Daryl Morey has explored all available trade possibilities and hasn’t been able to secure a top 5-10 player in exchange for Simmons, a three-time all-star selection and NBA Defensive Player of the Year runner-up last season,” Tom Moore of the Bucks County Courier Times reported. “The Blazers, for example, aren’t willing to part with star guard Damian Lillard.”

Wall, 31, is due $91.7 million over the next two seasons. While he has always been a pro’s pro and class act, that’s massive money for a point guard who isn’t quite considered among the big-money players anymore.

“Overall, he’s probably between 20th and 35th in the point guard hierarchy right now — a starter in a pinch, especially on a team like the Rockets, but more likely a plus backup on a good team,” wrote The Athletic’s John Hollinger, a former member of the Grizzlies’ basketball staff.