NBA Trade Deadline: 15 best NBA players who could be available

1. Ben Simmons — Philadelphia 76ers

This is the name everyone was waiting for. Ben Simmons has been in trade rumors for almost a year now. As soon as the 76ers season ended, it seemed like Simmons was in trade rumors. He had a brutal playoff run, and he hasn’t played a second of NBA basketball since. The Sixers were apparently unhappy with his role, and they floated his name in trade rumors to everyone who was willing to listen.

The asking price for Simmons is astronomical still. They want a superstar or the pieces to get a superstar in return. They floated Jaylen Brown, who isn’t on this list because we don’t see that happening at the deadline. The Celtics know when to get the best possible deals, and right now is not when the best deals are made for young superstars. Still, the Sixers currently have nothing to show for the Simmons asset, and they could be forced to make a deal just so they could push for a championship this season.

The NBA is wide open right now. The Brooklyn Nets look like the best team, but they are unhealthy and Kyrie Irving can’t play home games. Meanwhile, Chicago leads the Eastern Conference, but it’s hard to say they are the favorites to win it all. The top six teams in the East are still 2.5 games away from each other.

The fact that an NBA Championship might be in reach could force the Sixers to take a deal that could fall below their internal value for Simmons, but something that helps them now and in the future. Simmons is still someone who came into the league with generational upside. He hasn’t reached that potential, but he’s still a great player. A team that has the right role for him could find that generational talent again. The Sixers just have to find the right combination of massive return and a team willing to take a chance.