Sixers Seek Hawks’ John Collins, Multiple Firsts For Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris

January 24, 2022

The 76ers are seeking power forward John Collins and multiple first-round draft picks as part of a trade package from the Hawks for guard/forward Ben Simmons and small forward Tobias Harris, per Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic.

Philadelphia seemingly has been aggressive lately in trying to move Simmons ahead of the Feb. 10 trade deadline, have spoken to multiple potential trade partners, Charania and Amick indicated.

Simmons, 25, has been seeking a trade and the 76ers have sought to move him since this past offseason. He has yet to appear in a game.

The Sixers have asked for John Collins, multiple firsts and the Hawks taking back Tobias Harris’ salary for Ben Simmons.

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Meanwhile, the Hawks are exploring ways to shake things up around star guard Trae Young after advancing to the Eastern Conference finals last season. This year, they are in danger of missing the playoffs altogether.

While the 76ers remain engaged in Simmons talks, the possibility exists that they could wait until after the trade deadline to make a move.

“There’s belief that the offers currently available would be there in the offseason too,” Charania and Amick reported.

So basically, the 76ers could play the entire season with Simmons on the sideline if they fail to find a deal to their liking within the next several weeks.

Simmons is 6-foot-11 and was the No. 1 overall pick in 2016. He averaged 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists, shooting 56 percent from the field, in 58 games last season. He is also considered one of the NBA’s best perimeter defenders.