NBA Trade Rumors: Should the Pacers be all-in on pursuing Ben Simmons?

NBA Trade Rumors: It would make a lot of sense for the Indiana Pacers to pursue Ben Simmons. 

As the Ben Simmons saga continues into the first official week of the NBA preseason, is it time for a team to jump up and end this for both Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers? Probably, but one hasn’t come to that point yet.

One team that could theoretically do so is the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers are in an interesting spot heading into the 2021-22 NBA season. They have a talented roster but are not on the same level as the true contenders in the Eastern Conference. The team’s ceiling is likely a 4-6 seed and their floor is missing the playoffs entirely.

That could open the door for some major shakeup – perhaps via trade – at some point this season. Especially if they get off to a slow start or come to the quick realization that this roster doesn’t fit with what new coach Rick Carlisle wants to do.

If the front office is at that point already – though, it would be surprising – the Pacers could theoretically go all-in on a pursuit for Simmons.

Interestingly enough, Indiana is equipped with a lot of what the Sixers would be asking for on the open market. The Pacers have an all-star caliber player that they could build a package around in Malcolm Brogdon.

They also have another really good wing that they could throw in to sweeten the deal in Caris LeVert. And, finally, they own all their draft picks if Philly is still looking for draft compensation beyond Brogdon and LeVert.

Essentially, a deal could look something like this:

I feel like this would be a fair deal for both teams. The Sixers would not miss that much of a beat and would still be championship contenders this season by adding Brogdon and LeVert and would still save face by adding two first-round picks.

The Pacers would lose two big pieces of their core but would gain a potential face of the franchise in Simmons.

The concern for Indiana, of course, is whether or not a trio of Simmons, Domantas Sabonis, and Myles Turner makes sense. Simmons didn’t like playing with Joel Embiid or felt like the duo had run its course. I’m not sure where that would leave a potential pairing with another talented big such as Sabonis.

Assuming Simmons doesn’t care about the destination – and that’s no guarantee – the Pacers might consider going all-in on Simmons if their offer meets what Philly is asking for.

The Pacers don’t have enough currently to be a true contender in the Eastern Conference. Perhaps it’s time to shake things up. What better way to do so than with one of the most talented young players in the league.