New Orleans Pelicans: Pros and Cons of Trading for Ben Simmons

Evaluating the New Orleans Pelicans trading for Ben Simmons

For once we’re not going to discuss the New Orleans Pelicans’ recent failures in the NBA bubble, instead, we’re discussing a team who arguably performed even worse than the Pelicans did in Orlando, the Philadelphia 76ers.

Yesterday, the 76ers fired their head coach Brett Brown and reports are suggesting changes could be coming in the team’s front office too. These changes are collateral though, trying to cover up for the Philadelphia 76ers’ real problem, the Ben Simmons-Joel Embiid duo.

For all the talk about “The Process”, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid have always looked uncomfortable playing together, and this season began to prove that more than ever. Could the New Orleans Pelicans end up benefitting from the duo’s chemistry issues?

Both Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are astonishing talents but with changes coming all across Philadelphia’s organization, the team could finally be getting ready to decide between their two stars.

If that happens, many believe it will be Ben Simmons who hits the market. Simmons is just 24 years old and shows rare playmaking and defensive abilities. There are some clear flaws to his game, but going to an organization like New Orleans who are focused on developing young talent, there’s a chance Simmons’ game gets unlocked if the team acquires him.

I think if the price is right for the New Orleans Pelicans to trade for Ben Simmons, it would be something they strongly consider. With the heap of assets the Pelicans have at their disposal this could be David Griffin’s career-defining move in New Orleans, so let’s weigh the pros and cons of potentially trading for Ben Simmons.