NBA Trade Rumors: A Ben Simmons for Kyrie Irving swap isn’t likely.
We see it all the time in pro sports; teams hoping to trade one of their problems to another team for one of their problems. I guess it can be viewed as multiplying two negative numbers. The product is a positive one. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t.
For the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets, many were clamoring for the two sides to follow suit with a potential Kyrie Irving for Ben Simmons swap. On one hand, I’m not sure that’s a smart move for either team – even though, in a vacuum, it does make sense.
And, secondly, it doesn’t appear the Nets or the Sixers are at that point with their current problems. According to a recent report (subscription required), that’s not happening and it’s not an option on the table.
At least for the time being, the Sixers are still trying to salvage their relationship with Simmons and I don’t see a scenario in which the Nets trade Kyrie – unless, Kevin Durant is tired of this song and dance. And there’s no evidence of that.
When training camp opened, it was reported that Durant wasn’t going to push Kyrie on the vaccine and that the hope was he would be with the team full-time at some point this season. And perhaps that’s still the case, but the recent reporting doesn’t exactly reflect that.
Kyrie will not participate as a member of the Nets until he meets the demands of New York state law regarding vaccine mandates and the two sides are really at a crossroads. Still, it doesn’t appear the Nets are looking to trade Kyrie at this point.
Simmons has reported to the Sixers but there’s no guarantee that he’s willing to actually play games and commit to the team.
The Nets and Sixers still have plenty of uncharted waters to navigate. And there’s no telling how this is going to end for either team. At least for now, they won’t be looking to each other to help solve their respective problems. A Kyrie for Simmons swap isn’t happening.