The Recent Daryl Morey Interview
Daryl Morey just gave some great insight on what he is looking for in a Ben Simmons deal.
Here are a few highlights:
- "Everyone sees what's happening with Joel and how special that is... We have got to do whatever we can to help him.
- “It’s precisely because Joel is playing so amazing that this deal [the Ben trade] has to be the one.”
- Morey point out some specific things he is looking to improve, including defense, rebounding, playmaking, and transition game. But then followed that up with "We have, actually, a lot of things we need to improve.""
- “If you trade one of these great players (Ben Simmons) for multiple players, it does not change your championship odds enough to make a difference. For Joel, we have to make sure we get this right and that we move ourselves into a higher tier of ability to win the championship."
- Morey says they have lowered their asking price for Simmons because of how great Joel Embiid has been playing. “Because Joel’s playing amazing… now we might be able to do it with a top-40 player who’s a great fit."
- “I think it’s less likely than likely (that Ben Simmons is moved by the trade deadline), but hopefully I’m wrong. It won’t be from lack of trying.”
To sum all that up: Daryl Morey is very motivated to get a deal done but will not settle for anything outside of a current top 40 player that fits with Joel Embiid.
Why the Kings need to do this trade BEFORE the Trade Deadline
Ben Simmons reportedly "would have no problem going to Sacramento" and was even reported as having them as one of the few teams he actually wants to play for.
The Kings haven't made the playoffs in 15 years; but now a superstar has them on his small list of teams he wants to get traded to? Don't mess this up Sacramento!
Not only that, but De'Aaron Fox and Ben Simmons compliment each other very well. They fit!
The Kings have a chance to get a generational player on their team who is 1) just entering his prime, 2) actually wants to play for them, and 3) fits perfect with other franchise player. The Kings simply cannot miss on this opportunity.
Right now is the time to get a deal done; because other destinations don't have good offers right now. The Kings are the best suitors by far for the 76ers. But if they wait, they could lose that status and get outbid in the offseason.
For example, right now, the Warriors are not interested in breaking up their team to trade for Ben Simmons. However, they might be interested in trading for Ben Simmons in the offseason and could potentially outbid the Kings. Right now, the Lakers don't have a good enough packet that the 76ers would accept, but maybe that changes in the offseason as well. And who know what other suitors will come up in the offseason. Maybe the Celtics? Who knows?
The Kings simply can't risk letting other teams get back into the Ben Simmons discussion by waiting until the offseason.
The 76ers are motivated to make a deal now, and the Kings are the only legit suitors and should be willing to do what it takes to make it happen before the trade deadline.
The Rumored Rejected Kings Trade
I think there are a lot of reasons why the 76ers are not interested in that trade. First of all, none of those players fit the criteria of "a top-40 player who’s a great fit." In fact, this might be the exact trade Daryl Morey has thinking of when he said “If you trade one of these great players for multiple players, it does not change your championship odds enough to make a difference." Haliburton maybe have top 40 potential down the road, but not right now. He is only 21. By the time he is in his prime, Joel Embiid will be out of his prime and it will be too late. Second of all, I don't think the 76ers are interest in moving Thybulle.
This trade package just doesn't work for the win-now 76ers.
This is where the Utah Jazz come in
"A top-40 player who's a great fit" screams Mike Conley to me.
Conley made the All Star game last year, and has been a fringe All Star his entire career. He led a Grizzlies team for years with center Marc Gasol. Now he is doing it with Rudy Gobert. Just imagine what we could do with MVP talent Joel Embiid!
Conley and Embiid are not just a "great fit;" they're perfect for each other.
The Kings trade missing a top 40 player, but adding Mike Conley would change that. Also, the original trade does not address all of the needs Daryl Morey specifically listed. One of the things he said he wanted was playmaking. Mike Conley is an elite playmaker.
As a side bonus - the 76ers are rumored to want to get off of Tobias Harris's contract when moving Ben Simmons. 99% of the league would not want to take Tobias Harris, but I think the Jazz might be the one team that would be willing to take on that contact.
What are the Jazz getting out of this?
The answer: Tyrese Haliburton.
I do not believe the Jazz are actively looking to make a major trade before the trade deadline. They are fringe contenders right now and they are perfectly content going into the playoffs with their current roster. However, they would not be favored against the Warriors or the Suns in a playoff series. So I guess I would call it a "punchers chance."
Size has been a problem for the Jazz the last few seasons. Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell are both 6'1. It is hard to win in today's NBA with two player that short in a starting rotation. If the Jazz had the chance secure a young, talented combo guard to pair with Donovan Mitchell for the future, they would have to at least consider it.
Haliburton is 21 years old and is listed at 6'5. His career 3P% is currently at 42%. I think Hali could be the perfect backcourt player to pair with Donovan Mitchell for the foreseeable future. Maybe for Donovan's entire career!
Besides size, age is about to become a big problem for Utah. The Jazz are decent contenders right now, but their window is closing. Mike Conley and Joe Ingles are 34. Rudy Gay is 35. Bojan Bogdanovic and Hassan Whiteside are 32. And Rudy Gobert and Jordan Clarkson are both 29. Donovan Mitchell is just entering his prime, but all of his teammates are on the tail end. In three years, Donovan could be looking around at a pretty bare supporting cast.
So I say again, if the Jazz are given the opportunity get younger with a high potential 21 year old, perfect backcourt player with Donovan, while at the same time also still being able to contend in the playoffs this year, I think the Jazz would have to seriously consider that. In fact, I think they would have to take it.
And, even though Tobias Harris has one of the most contracts in the league, the Jazz could actually use him. Tobias would probably even start over the undersized Royce O'Neale. A starting lineup of Haliburton, Mitchell, Bojan Bogdanovic, Tobias Harris, and Rudy Gobert isn't even that far off of their current starting lineup of Conley, Mitchell, Royce, Bognaovic, and Gobert.
Also, that horrible Tobais contract actually lines up quite nicely with Haliburton's rookie contract. So when it is time to pay Haliburton the big bucks in two and a half years from now, Tobias's will finally be an unrestricted free agent.
The Trade
Philadelphia 76ers receive:
- Mike Conley
- Harrison Barnes
- Buddy Hield
- Rudy Gay, Joe Ingles, or Jordan Clarkson.
Sacramento Kings receive:
- Ben Simmons
- An expiring contract (probably either Joe Ingles or Danny Green).
Utah Jazz receives:
- Tyrese Haliburton
- Tobias Harris
Specific Trade Scenarios
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| Trade Scenario 1 |
The 76ers get their top 40 player that is a perfect fit with Joel Embiid in Mike Conley. Daryl Morey checks all those other boxes, too, getting help with defense, rebounding, playmaking, transition game, etc. with Conley, Barnes, Hield, and Gay.
The Kings get their superstar Ben Simmons and they only have to trade the three players they were already willing to trade. Plus they don't have to take on Tobias Harris's contract and they don't have to give up those two 1st round draft picks either.
It's pretty much exactly the same for the Kings. They still get their guy Ben Simmons and an expiring contract.
The Kings get their superstar Ben Simmons and they only have to trade the three players they were already willing to trade. Plus they don't have to take on Tobias Harris's contract and they don't have to give up those two 1st round draft picks either.
The Jazz get taller, younger, and the high potential 21 year old Haliburton.
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| Trade Scenario 2 |
In Scenario 2, I have the 76ers getting reining 6MOY Jordan Clarkson instead of Rudy Gay, and the Kings taking Danny Green's expiring contract instead of Joe Ingles. Everything else is the same.
Talent wise, I don't quite like this variation as much for the 76ers. I think Rudy Gay makes more sense than Clarkson. Philly would already have plenty of guards (Conley, Hield, Curry, Maxey, and Thybulle). Plus they would now be losing forward Danny Green in this scenario as well. That would put a lot of pressure on Harrison Barnes and Georges Niang at the 4 position, whereas Scenario 1 would include both Rudy Gay and Danny Green to the 4 mix. But an argument can be made that the 76ers need a shot creator / bucket getter like Clarkson off the bench. And maybe they just like JC more than Gay. Plus, with this trade variation, now would be are trading 3 players for 4 instead of 2 for 4; so there in now only one roster spot they need to free up instead of 2.
It's pretty much exactly the same for the Kings. They still get their guy Ben Simmons and an expiring contract.
From the Jazz perspective, it's about a wash. They keep more size but get less younger. I would probably rather have Gay and Ingles this year if I am the Jazz. They need size, so trading two guards for one guard and one forward could actually work very well for Utah. Plus keeping Joe Ingles and Rudy Gay adds versatility, playmaking, and shooting. However, they would miss JC's offense off the bench. And in the scenario they are trading away a 29 year old player instead of the two 34+ year old players, so going forward after this, scenario 1 might be better.
Conclusion
I think the 76ers would for sure do this deal especially Trade Scenario 1. They would be getting everything Daryl Morey wants for Ben Simmons and more, plus they would be getting rid of the Tobias Harris contract.
I think the Kings would do it too. I do not think the Kings can afford to let Ben Simmons stay on the 76ers this year and then potentially lose out on him to a different team in the offseason. The Kings are only giving up the 3 players they already were rumored to be willing to give up. And now they don't have to give away any picks.
And I think the Jazz would do it. They would have the chance to give Donovan Mitchell perhaps the perfect backcourt partner in Tyrese Haliburton for the foreseeable future; maybe even play their entire primes together like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Tobias and Haliburton address two of the Jazz's biggest weaknesses: size and age. The Jazz future would be much brighter, without damaging their current playoffs contention status too much. And although the Tobias contract is horrible, pairing it with Haliburton's rookie contract makes it not-as-bad.
