The Lakers rumors are all smoke: 3 reasons why LA won’t make any trades
By Jason Reed
1. A Ben Simmons trade is downright impossible
Ben Simmons’ name being included in these Lakers rumors is downright hilarious because there is a zero-percent chance that the Los Angeles Lakers would be able to trade for Simmons. Sure, it sounds good for the Lakers to add Simmons to the mix but it makes absolutely no sense for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Lakers would have to trade one of their three stars for Simmons and the most likely candidate becomes Russell Westbrook. Not only would the 76ers need to trade Simmons for Westbrook but they would also have to throw in another contract to make it work. Someone like Danny Green would make it work.
That sounds like a great deal for the Lakers and that is because it is horrible for the 76ers. It does not matter how long Simmons sits out and how low his trade value gets, the 76ers are better off playing without Simmons than they are playing with Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook’s contract would restrict the 76ers from making any future moves and the floor-spacing with Joel Embiid would be downright terrible. The 76ers would have all of the same offensive issues that they have with Simmons but would not get the elite defense of Simmons. Instead, they would get the below-average defense of Westbrook.
All of the issues that have hit the Lakers after the Westbrook trade would hit the 76ers. Why would Philly want that?