With their inability to live up to expectations to become a legitimate title contender in the Eastern Conference, rumors have started to circulate that the Philadelphia 76ers might consider breaking up the young superstar duo of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid in the 2020 NBA offseason. However, if they do decide to make either player available on the trade market this fall, most people believe they would demand another All-Star caliber talent in return. The Phoenix Suns could be a potential trade partner for the Sixers if they choose to let Simmons go.
According to Fadeaway World , Philadelphia could explore trading Simmons and Zhaire Smith to the Suns in exchange for Devin Booker. Trading a young and promising superstar like Simmons would undeniably be a tough decision for the Sixers, but it should be a no-brainer if it means acquiring a player of Booker’s caliber. As Fadeaway World noted, the proposed trade deal would allow Philly to recreate the modern version of Los Angeles Lakers legends Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant with Embiid and Booker.
“Joel Embiid and Devin Booker could recreate a modern version of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. Booker has the scoring ability that Kobe had, while Embiid has the size and skills of a modern-day Shaq. While we will never see a duo quite as dominant and talented as Shaq and Kobe, Booker and Embiid can come close. The Sixers clearly have not found admirable this year, so perhaps moving on from Ben Simmons and replacing him with an All-Star who can shoot might be the best way to go. Simmons is only shooting 8.7% from three (yikes) while Booker is a 35.5% shooter from three albeit with a high volume.”
Trading Simmons for Booker makes a lot of sense for the Sixers, especially if they are determined to build a title-contending team around Embiid. Compared to Simmons, Booker is undeniably a much better fit for Embiid. Having an elite three-point shooter would be beneficial for Embiid as it would make it easier for him to penetrate the basket or kick the ball out when he’s trapped by the opposing team’s defense.
Simmons’ departure wouldn’t deeply hurt the Sixers on the offensive end of the floor, since Booker is also an incredible playmaker and a very reliable scoring option. This season, the 23-year-old shooting guard is averaging 26.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.6 assists while shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 36.0 percent from beyond the arc. If he meshes well with the core of Embiid, Tobias Harris, Josh Richardson, and Al Horford, the Sixers would have a better chance of fully dominating the Eastern Conference and winning the NBA championship title next season.
The proposed trade deal isn’t bad for the Suns, either, especially if the rumors that Booker is no longer happy in Phoenix are true. In exchange for him, the Suns would be acquiring a player who has the potential to become the new face of the franchise and another young and promising talent. Simmons and Smith could join forces with DeAndre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, and Kelly Oubre Jr. to form the new Suns’ core that could potentially end their playoff drought next season.
