The Golden State Warriors season came to an early and disappointing end. They couldn't get past the Memphis Grizzlies despite Stephen Curry's heroics and failed to make the playoffs for the second straight year.
It's clear that the Warriors need to add a couple of pieces to go back to championship contention once Klay Thompson is able to come back. They still have a championship-caliber core but even good things can get better.
That's why they might as well try and make a run at Ben Simmons, as he's being pointed out as the responsible for the Philadelphia 76ers' collapse and could be available in trade talks for the first time in his career.
Why Would The Warriors Trade For Ben Simmons?
For starters, we can all agree that Ben Simmons isn't nearly as bad as he looked vs. the Atlanta Hawks. Yes, he needs to fix his shot and be mentally stronger but it's not like he can't play. He's an elite playmaker, and he's represented by Klutch Sports just like Draymond Green.
Simmons would be perfect for the Warriors' system as a small-ball five. They'd have three elite shot-creators in Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and him, which is perfect for Steve Kerr's full-motion offense.
Also, just like Green, Ben Simmons can guard one through five. If Klay Thompson didn't lose any of his lateral quickness, they'd have three elite defenders in their starting lineup for next season.
The Warriors have enough shooters - including the two greatest shooters of all time - to make up for Simmons' flaws, and having him in the paint would force defenses to pay attention to him, unlike what's happening when he's on the backcourt.
Why Would The Sixers Trade Ben Simmons?
As much as they were sold on Ben Simmons, it seems like there's no coming back from this. Doc Rivers and Joel Embiid both threw shade at him, and some people believe that he's lost a lot of respect in the locker room.
Simmons is great but he's just not a good fit next to Joel Embiid. As a matter of fact, Ben's shooting woes have actually forced Embiid to go out to the perimeter and pull up from three, even though he has stated that he's uncomfortable with that role.
The Sixers need to add shooters to their roster and another primary ball-handler. Simmons' trade value isn't likely going to get higher than it is right now, and they'd also love to get their salary off their books.
The Process was a fun run but it seems like it came to an end already. The way their roster is built, it'd be better and easier to move just one of their players rather than starting from scratch.
NBA Rumors: The Only Way The Warriors Could Get Ben Simmons
The Golden State Warriors are hard-capped right now and most of their money is going towards their championship core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson. So this will be tricky.
For starters, it's clear that the Warriors would need to part ways with at least one of their two lottery picks (7th and 14th) in the upcoming draft just to make the Sixers consider listening to their offer and not trading Simmons somewhere else.
The Warriors could offer Andrew Wiggins and their two lottery picks in return for Simmons. The only other way they could get him is by offering James Wiseman, but they're reportedly not considering moving on from him.
Wiggins made nice strides as a defender and shooter in his first season-and-a-half at the Bay. The Sixers could trust Tyrese Maxey as their point guard next season and would have two lottery picks to flip for an All-Star or land more talent in the draft.
The Warriors would enter win-now mode with another top-tier talent on their roster to try and make the most of their aging core, even if it means committing over $150 million on a player that may never learn how to shoot. But hey, whatever it takes to win another ring.
