NBA Trade Rumors: Ben Simmons would be open to trade to Kings

NBA Trade Rumors: Ben Simmons would be open to playing for the Sacramento Kings. 

The 2021-22 NBA regular season is slated to start in a little more than a week and there’s still no resolution in sight between the Philadelphia 76ers and Ben Simmons.

Simmons’ camp continues to maintain that he isn’t going to report to camp and the Sixers haven’t shown much urgency in moving him before the start of the regular season. Nevertheless, something has to give – you’d imagine – and something very quickly.

Interestingly enough, it’s been reported (subscription required) that Simmons so badly wants out of Philadelphia that he’s even willing to play for the Sacramento Kings. Which, in itself, is quite telling of the current circumstance between Simmons and the Sixers.

Considering that Simmons is still on a lengthy contract, that’s kind of big news. And it also tells us just how bad Simmons wants out of Sacramento.

This report also, and perhaps most importantly, gives the Kings something to think about. If the Kings want to go get Simmons, this is the time to do so. There won’t be any pushback from Simmons’ camp and when was the last time a superstar was open to playing for the Kings (one that wasn’t drafted by them)? I can’t say I can remember another instance.

This could be the moment that the Kings have been waiting for to truly hit the hard reset button and if this report is indeed accurate, I’m not sure this is something they can let pass by without, at the very least, exploring the possibility.

The big question is whether the Sixers would ever accept a trade offer that didn’t include De’Aaron Fox or Tyrese Haliburton. Because that’s likely the circumstances that they would be operating under.

If the Kings wanted to make a splash and really change the shape of this roster, this could be their opportunity. That’s, of course, if they really want Ben Simmons in the first place.