Big hint Simmons trade is ‘heating up’ as Sixers dealt $246m blow

We finally may be closing in on a Ben Simmons trade. That is at least what one NBA insider is hearing, reporting Philadelphia’s trade talks have been “gathering momentum in recent days”.

PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 13: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the Phoenix Suns on February 13, 2021 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Barry Gossage / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)

We finally may be closing in on a Ben Simmons trade.

That is at least what ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is hearing, with the NBA insider reporting Philadelphia’s trade talks have been “gathering momentum in recent days”.

Wojnarowski added that more two and three-way deal structure talks have been held with the Sixers shooting for a top-25 player in exchange for Simmons.

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The timing is certainly interesting, as Wojnarowski points out, with a key date looming in the next week.

December 15 marks the first day players who signed contracts in the offseason can be traded.

Once that date hits, there will be 106 more potential trade pieces on the table according to CBS Sports.

That brings the total to 84 per cent of the league’s players that will be eligible to be traded according to Wojnarowski.

Much of the renewed impetus surrounds Wednesday, when 84 percent of the league's 446 players become eligible to be traded. Right now, 65 percent are eligible to be moved. https://t.co/f2nYMp353z

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 10, 2021

The trade deadline is still two months away.

While it may look like the Sixers are closing in on a move, it won’t be the dream trade many Philadelphia fans have been hoping for.

Wojnarowski added on Saturday morning that the Portland Trail Blazers “have made clear” that Damian Lillard “is not available to be discussed in trade talks”.

The Blazers have “no interest” in moving him according to Wojnarowski while Lillard too wants to stay put long-term.

Even uncertainty surrounding the front office won’t be a roadblock, with Wojnarowski reporting interim GM Joe Cronin has a “strong commitment to continue building the franchise around” Lillard.

The Portland Trail Blazers have made clear to the 76ers that All-NBA guard Damian Lillard is not available to be discussed in trade talks and franchise has no interest in moving him, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 10, 2021

It caps off what has been a busy week in Simmons rumours, with reports of an impending rebuild at Indiana seeing the Sixers star linked to a move to the Pacers.

A later report from ESPN then suggested Lillard could be at odds with Portland over his demand for a two-year, $107 million ($A150m) extension in July.

Lillard is in the first season of a four-year, $176.3 million ($A246m) contract with a player option for the fourth season (2024-25).

Several top-level GM candidates reportedly did not share Lillard’s enthusiasm in making that happen and told ESPN they would be “far more interested” in the Blazers job if they had the backing of the ownership to move Lillard on “sooner than later”.

Not that @wojespn needs any confirmation

I’m told conversations are heating up around NBA on Ben Simmons https://t.co/TCwJm4k0MU

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) December 10, 2021

The most recent reporting from Wojnarowski though indicates Lillard will be staying put, meaning C.J. McCollum shapes as the likeliest piece to moved on in any deal with the 76ers.

The Blazers guard though has been diagnosed with a collapsed right lung while a report from The PhillyVoice added a package centred around McCollum is “not currently of interest” to the Sixers.

Then there was talk of Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic wanting to play with Simmons and the timing could be right with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Reggie Bullock eligible to be traded after December 15.

Meanwhile, a report from NBA insider Marc Stein claimed that “Simmons would welcome the opportunity to play for [Gregg] Popovich”.

The latter, of course, would depend on the San Antonio Spurs finding the right pieces to trade for Simmons.

Dejounte Murray is the most likely name to come up given he is the closest to fitting the All-Star-calibre return Philadelphia is after.

Here is a full list of all the NBA players that will be eligible to be traded on December 15 according to CBS Sports.

*Players who would be able to veto a trade.

Atlanta Hawks

Gorgui Dieng

Solomon Hill *

Lou Williams *

Boston Celtics

Enes Freedom

Dennis Schröder

Brooklyn Nets

LaMarcus Aldridge *

DeAndre’ Bembry

Blake Griffin *

James Johnson

Patty Mills

Paul Millsap

Charlotte Hornets

Ish Smith

Kelly Oubre

Chicago Bulls

Lonzo Ball

Tony Bradley

Alex Caruso

DeMar DeRozan

Javonte Green

Alize Johnson

Cleveland Cavaliers

Lauri Markkanen

Kevin Pangos

Dallas Mavericks

Reggie Bullock

Sterling Brown

Tim Hardaway Jr.

Boban Marjanovic

Frank Ntilikina

Denver Nuggets

Will Barton

JaMychal Green *

Jeff Green

Austin Rivers *

Detroit Pistons

Frank Jackson *

Cory Joseph *

Saben Lee

Trey Lyles

Rodney McGruder *

Kelly Olynyk

Golden State Warriors

Nemanja Bjelica

Andre Iguodala

Otto Porter

Houston Rockets

Daniel Theis

Indiana Pacers

Torrey Craig

Los Angeles Clippers

Nicolas Batum *

Kawhi Leonard

Justise Winslow

Los Angeles Lakers

Carmelo Anthony

Trevor Ariza

Kent Bazemore

Wayne Ellington

Dwight Howard

DeAndre Jordan

Malik Monk

Kendrick Nunn

Rajon Rondo

Memphis Grizzlies

N/A

Miami Heat

Dewayne Dedmon *

Udonis Haslem *

Kyle Lowry

Markieff Morris

Victor Oladipo *

Max Strus

P.J. Tucker

Gabe Vincent

Omer Yurtseven

Milwaukee Bucks

Thanasis Antetokounmpo *

George Hill

Rodney Hood

Semi Ojeleye

Bobby Portis *

Minnesota Timberwolves

N/A

New Orleans Pelicans

Devonte’ Graham

Willy Hernangomez

Didi Louzada

Garrett Temple

New York Knicks

Alec Burks

Evan Fournier

Taj Gibson

Nerlens Noel

Kemba Walker

Oklahoma City Thunder

Mike Muscala *

Orlando Magic

Robin Lopez

E’Twaun Moore

Moritz Wagner

Philadelphia 76ers

Andre Drummond

Danny Green

Georges Niang

Phoenix Suns

Frank Kaminsky *

JaVale McGee

Abdel Nader *

Chris Paul

Elfrid Payton

Portland Trail Blazers

Ben McLemore

Tony Snell

Cody Zeller

Sacramento Kings

Maurice Harkless

Alex Len

San Antonio Spurs

Keita Bates-Diop

Zach Collins

Bryn Forbes

Jock Landale

Doug McDermott

Toronto Raptors

Khem Birch

Isaac Bonga

Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk

Utah Jazz

Mike Conley

Rudy Gay

Hassan Whiteside

Washington Wizards

Spencer Dinwiddie

Raul Neto *

Originally published as Big hint Simmons trade is ‘heating up’ as Sixers dealt $246m blow