Report: Warriors divided on how Simmons, Draymond would fit originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
It's incredibly difficult to envision a scenario in which Ben Simmons plays for the Philadelphia 76ers this coming season. There's too much lingering friction. It is past the point of no return.
Simmons and the Sixers both seem to know it. The problem is, they're determined to get fair value for him in return, but their idea of fair value is a lot more than any team currently is willing to offer. If they sell Simmons now, they'll be doing so at his lowest point. You can see why the Sixers might not want to trade him just yet, but the reality of the situation seems likely to force their hand, sooner rather than later.
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The Warriors, as is always the case with a potentially available big name, naturally have interest in acquiring Simmons, provided that it's at a price they can swallow. But beyond the difficulties of constructing a trade that would be amenable to both sides is the question of whether or not Simmons would fit in with the Warriors' dynastic core, and particularly alongside Draymond Green. While both players are unique in their ability to impact the game in so many ways, they're also both below-average shooters, which could prove problematic if teamed up.
Of course, there's another side to that coin, which likely is at the root of why Golden State would be interested in Simmons. Given his elite playmaking and defensive abilities, ESPN's Zach Lowe made the case as to why a Simmons-Green frontcourt pairing potentially could work.
"I think the Warriors internally are divided on the potential fit of Simmons with Draymond Green," Lowe said Tuesday on the "Lowe Post" podcast. "Do you agree?"
"I've been told they are," ESPN's Stephen A. Smith responded. "They are divided."
"And I get why, right," Lowe continued. "Draymond doesn't really shoot anymore. Ben doesn't shoot -- I mean, Ben doesn't even dunk in Game 7 when he's got an open dunk -- but I wonder if we're all over-fretting a little bit, because if you put those two with Steph [Curry], Klay [Thompson] and just, like, pick a shooter, so you're playing Draymond at the five and Simmons at the (four), the level of playmaking and shooting is ... I don't think the Warriors will do it, I don't quite know how I feel about it, but I'm a little more positive about it than most people I've talked to I think."
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Whether or not the Warriors should trade for Simmons is a very complicated question. But you can be sure it's one they've already asked themselves, and likely will continue to until his situation is resolved.
