How Would a Ben Simmons Trade to Cavaliers Impact Their Odds?

The Cleveland Cavaliers have surprised everyone this season, getting off to a 20-13 start this season and climbing in the odds at WynnBET Sportsbook. 

Cleveland has moved to +4000 to win the Eastern Conference and +10000 to win the NBA title this season, and it could move even more if it orchestrates a deal at the league’s trade deadline.

One player to watch for the Cavs? You guessed it, Ben Simmons. 

The Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard has yet to play in a game this season, but the Cavs reportedly could be in on Simmons. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski broke things down on NBA Countdown ahead of the Christmas Day games. 

“But here’s an interesting team to watch: the Cleveland Cavaliers, who before they went on this really incredible start to the season, had been engaged with Philly on Simmons,” Wojnarowski said. “They’ve got some really intriguing assets, either in a straight deal or perhaps a three- or four-team deal. It was reported earlier J.B. Bickerstaff agreed to a new extension today through 2026-27. This is a team in Cleveland that’s just a game out of third place.

“Philly’s a team right now, in that bunched up East, who could be out of the play-in with a couple of losses, the way it’s bunched up. So expect Philly to start talking more with teams as we get closer to that Feb. 10 deadline, and it will be interesting to see if Cleveland re-engages as a team that I think’s built for long-term success with all their young players. Ben Simmons is only 25 years old; he does fit into the timeline of that team.”

The question becomes what would Cleveland have to give up to get Simmons? Would Collin Sexton, who is out for the season and a restricted free agent after the 2021-22 campaign, move the needle for Philly long term? 

Or, would the Sixers settle for veteran pieces such as Ricky Rubio or Lauri Markkanen? Former first-round pick Isaac Okoro would almost certainly find himself in a Simmons deal as well. 

It’s hard to make a case for the Sixers to pursue Cleveland as a trade partner, and for Cleveland does Simmons really move the needle?

In my estimation, he doesn’t. The Cavs are already No. 2 in the NBA in defensive rating, and they’d be taking the ball out of promising young guard Darius Garland’s hands if Simmons were to join the team. 

Simmons’ offensive game does not mesh well with big men Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, who aren’t exactly floor spacers right now. Simmons would fit much better with at least one stretch big, and we’ve seen even that wasn’t enough with Joel Embiid in Philly.

Simmons is an All-Star, and he would likely cause a jump in Cleveland’s odds on name alone, but it wouldn’t be nearly as strong a value as the Cavs are right now. 

Simmons wasn’t able to make an Eastern Conference Finals while paired with Embiid and Jimmy Butler, and I don’t think he makes the Cavs any more of a contender than they really are at this point in the season.