Within 24 hours of losing his job as the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, Doc Rivers was on a plane to Philly. One day later, it was announced that he would become the next head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Although the dollar value of Rivers’ deal is still up in the air, it will reportedly be a five-year contract.
Just like that, general manager Elton Brand replaced Brett Brown with arguably the biggest name available on the market.
So what comes next?
According to former professional basketball player Rashad Phillips, next Philly will trade away Ben Simmons to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Doc Rivers is going to try an trade Ben Simmons to Minnesota for the number 1 pick and take Lamelo Ball in Philly. Good chess move Doc. #TalkSoon pic.twitter.com/G68zZJCCT8
— Rashad Phillips (@RP3natural) October 2, 2020
Philly hasn’t had a box office attraction at the PG poison since Iverson. LaMelo brings the fan appeal. It’s a win win for both teams. It’s worth the chance. The Embiid and Ben experiment has ran its course in Philly. #Yoda pic.twitter.com/2b89qjmBsK
— Rashad Phillips (@RP3natural) October 2, 2020
Naturally, NBA Twitter had some responses to that suggestion.
HS teammates with Russell, would fit here well. His name came up this morning in our @SKORNorth chat. But no actual steam yet. Heck, Doc just agreed to his contact like 4 seconds ago! Deep breath!
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) October 2, 2020
As a Wolves fan I’d rather they took Melo/Edwards. I’d rather they traded that first pick for DBook
— Cameron Frentress (@CamFrent) October 2, 2020
Minny ain’t taking that, even in this weak class.
Plus, that lineup sounds like an absolute disaster. DLo can’t play off ball, league has figured out Simmons’ game without it. And KAT would have to sacrifice all his touches in a high p/r
— What’s a tiktok (@sa_wick) October 2, 2020
Ppl gotta realize embiid and Simmons don’t fit why waste another year
— Jeremy Belle (@JcBelle3) October 2, 2020
It wouldn’t surprise me pic.twitter.com/W99XgE7G6K
— Super Bowl Champion, GOOD Luck Chuck (@cpenn4thewin) October 2, 2020
Wtf is the point of trading Ben Simmons for a less athletic Ben Simmons?
— John Yacoubian 😷 (@BossesMemphis) October 2, 2020
Go off pic.twitter.com/ewi6n0oH6v
— EDP445 Burner (@EDPBurnerClips) October 2, 2020
How does this make sense in any way, shape or form? Youre gonna add another pg to minny, on a max contract? How do you build the team? Also why would philly want a rookie pg when they have title aspirations? You make 0 sense bro lmao.
— Chris Bernhard (@_chrisb97) October 2, 2020
Doesn’t Doc need more of a Rondo than Melo. We might be jumping the gun early on Melo. Philly not the best place for his style of play (energy, effort, defense, shot selection, etc.)
— DUVAL 💯 SIMMONDS (@DuvalSimmonds) October 2, 2020
Wow Shad that’s definitely an out of the box thought that didn’t even hit me!
If Minnesota doesn’t accept the trade or if Ben can’t be moved, is there a way Doc can use Ben in a Rondo type role??
— Brad Wakai (@BWakai) October 2, 2020
That’s a bomb right there but I just don’t like the thought of Trading Simmons over Embiid
— Rene Garcia (@Reneg23_) October 2, 2020
Simmons’ partnership with Joel Embiid has obviously not produced the sort of results the Sixers’ front office was hoping for. That said, the two players are still extremely young. Blowing up the team in favor of an admittedly alluring, but completely unproven talent in Ball would be a risky move.
This past season Simmons played out his four-year, $26 million dollar deal that paid him $8.1 million in 2019-20.
Now the 24-year-old is on a contract that will pay him $179 million over the next five years.
The reactions were about what you’d expect. https://t.co/qfG3lozTUV
— Game 7 (@game7__) October 2, 2020
When you are paying someone an annual average of $35 million, there are certain accompanying expectations.
If the Sixers truly feel like Simmons cannot live up to them, then trading him away may make sense. But if there is any doubt whatsoever, then all involved would be wise to take a deep breath and see how things go under Rivers this season before making any dramatic changes.
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