Report: Philadelphia 76ers draw up list of players to swap with Ben Simmons

The Ben Simmons trade saga is showing no signs of ending, but his team have reportedly drawn up a shortlist of superstars to trade the Aussie for.

The 76ers have reportedly drawn up a shortlist of 30 players who could be involved in a trade deal for Ben Simmons. Picture: Supplied

There appears to be no move in the immediate future for Ben Simmons, but that hasn’t stopped the Philadelphia 76ers from drawing up their trade wishlist for the star.

Simmons has been angling for a move away from the City of Brotherly Love although the 76ers are holding out for a deal that reflects just how highly they value the former number one draft pick.

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Ever since the 25-year-old turned in a horror offensive performance for Philly in their Eastern Conference semi-final against the Atlanta Hawks, it has always been a matter of when, not if the former LSU product would leave.

He’s demanded a trade, been tossed out of practice sessions for barely lifting more than a finger and is now sitting out games due to mental health.

But no matter how many toys are thrown out of the cot, the 76ers are simply not willing to bend to Simmons’ behaviour.

However, a report in The Athletic claims there are 30 players who might just change Philadelphia’s mind.

76ers general manager Daryl Morey has drawn up a shortlist which includes superstars like Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal.

Could Trail Blazers talisman Damian Lillard be on his way to Philadelphia? Picture: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP

Put simply, Doc Rivers and the Philly executives will not settle for anything less than world-class players.

The report also claims that of the 30 players on the shortlist, there is strong internal belief that a number of them could become available in the next year or two.

It remains to be seen in regards to exactly what the ideal trade package looks like for the 76ers, but it will certainly send shockwaves through the NBA if they can deal Simmons for any of the aforementioned trio.

Earlier this week, Simmons was the subject of a bizarre radio phone-in from a 76ers fan who called in to complain about the Australian star despite supposedly being the victim of a hit-and-run incident.

The caller, known as “James”, dialled in to the “Angelo Cataldi and the Morning Team”, a radio show based in Philadelphia and told his story.

“(I’m) Not bad, someone just hit my car,” he said. “And they’re driving off. It’s okay. They just swerved into my lane. It’s alright. I’m not worried about it.”

The radio host was puzzled, responding: “You just got into a car accident, and you’re calling about Ben Simmons?”

To which the caller replied: “Yeah, because he annoys me more than someone hitting my car and driving off.”

On the flip side of the caller’s grievances with Simmons, former Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas believes the fault for the guard’s issues lie squarely at the feet of the 76ers.

“Here’s what happened,” Thomas said on The Big Podcast with Shaq. “He had a bad moment. He had some bad moments in the playoffs, right? What your team, your coach and your organisation is supposed to do in your bad moments, they are supposed to protect you. They ain’t supposed to air your dirty laundry out.”

Originally published as Report: Philadelphia 76ers draw up list of players to swap with Ben Simmons