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Philadelphia 76ers: Simmons and the number 3 pick for Porzingis and 8 overall?

By Miles Zielinski

Mar 26, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) spins the ball on his finger during warmups before the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) spins the ball on his finger during warmups before the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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You’re the Philadelphia 76ers’ General Manager, it’s June 22nd. You’re on the clock to make your pick when the New York Knicks call and offer you a trade.

The trade consists of their best young talent Kristaps Porzingis and the eighth overall pick and they ask for your 2016 first overall pick, Ben Simmons, and the third pick this year. What do you do?

For many reasons, this proposed Philadelphia 76ers trade should not make sense for the organization. For years, we watched as the Sixers played some of their worst seasons ever. Sam Hinkie had this idea that not winning games now would equate to winning championships in the future. Hinkie wanted to draft the next big star instead trading assets for one. Crazy, right? But it worked.

The Sixers drafted Ben Simmons who is positioned to be the next best thing in Philadelphia. Sidelined for what would have been his rookie season with a foot injury, his play on the NBA level has yet to be seen besides a few contests in the Summer League.

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Kristaps Porzingis on the other had has been making an impact on a team equally as bad as the Sixers, the Knicks. Porzingis has off the court issues with the front office after the conclusion of the ‘15-’16 season since skipping exit interviews. Porzingis averages 18.11PPG, 7.2RPG, and 2 BLKPG. Kristaps Porzingis is surely on track to be the face of a franchise and multiple time all-star.

This trade still does not make sense for the Sixers. Despite Simmons missing the season last year, he is still the identity of the Franchise alongside Joel Embiid.

In the draft lottery, the Knicks landed the eighth overall pick and the Sixers used their swap rights with Sacramento to land the third overall. In this proposed trade, players and picks are both traded. The Sixers will likely draft Ball, Fox, or Jackson while the Knicks are looking at Isaac or Smith Jr.. These prospects would find a fit on the Sixers and overall; the NBA.

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It would be immature of the Sixers to give up on their project of Ben Simmons before he suits up to play his first NBA game. At the same time, the idea of Kristaps Porzingis in a Sixers uniform is enticing. The Sixers front office will surely entertain all offers for their core of young talent.