There is exactly one month to go before the winter market close, so it is foreseeable from now on that the rumors will follow one after the other. Although if the latter is true, the case of Ben Simmons could be solved without having to wait another thirty days.
According to Shams Charania, of The Athletic, the bad situation of the Atlanta Hawks (Eastern Finalists in 2021), Trae Young’s manifest dissatisfaction with the terrible course and a John Collins who does not play the desired role after his millionaire renewal, would have accelerated the talks between 76ers and Hawks by an understanding that would send Ben Simmons to the whole of the state of Georgia while in Philadelphia they would receive, as main assets, power forward John Collins and Cam Reddish, one of the best shooters of the group led by Nate McMillan.
After not materializing any of the discussions between Kings and 76ers to send the playmaker to Sacramento, this new avenue remains open that does put a couple of weighty names on the table.
Almost 30 offensive weight points
Collins statistically has the worst Usage of his career with the exception of his rookie course, although on similar scales to those of his last two years. His numbers are being 17.5 points and 7.9 rebounds in 32.6 minutes, and with a surprising efficiency from the triple, with a 42.7% success rate in three attempts per game.
Reddish, who had a great start to the season, for his part averages 11.9 points in 23.4 minutes starting from the second unit, and despite his good work in Atlanta they have hung the transferable poster for a long time for difficult reasons to determine.
Quite a turn to the defense
Currently out of play-in positions, they boast of the 3rd best attack in the NBA but, at the same time, they have the 4th worst defense, receiving more than 113 points per game night. This could be where much of the interest in this exchange on the part of the Hawks could reside, aware of the great defender, both in perimeter and in the mismatch, which is Simmons. How McMillan would do to give simultaneous fit to two playmakers like him and Young is already another matter.
Even getting rid of two such important players in the rotation as Collins and Reddish, the Hawks will continue to have pieces of guarantees in those demarcations thanks to a barbarian wardrobe: Gallinari, Hunter, Okongwu, Hill or the recently drafted Jalen Johnson.
Meanwhile, the 76ers, would close the heavy soap opera by acquiring a shooter very liked by Daryl Morey and a great player capable of being a threat almost from any corner of the court, both with or without the ball, in addition to providing an extra air to the game. Philly painting (something Drummond is not achieving) thanks to his athleticism, talent and fierceness. A possible ideal partner for Joel Embiid.
(Cover photo by Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)