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Report: 76ers want All-Star, draft picks, pick swaps for Ben Simmons

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 7/28/21

An unnamed NBA team executive said in late June that the perception exists that Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Ben Simmons is "so broken" coming off his nightmarish offensive performances during the postseason.

That isn't stopping the 76ers from putting a high price on Simmons' services.

On Wednesday, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN explained during an on-air segment that Philadelphia wants something similar to what the Houston Rockets received for James Harden in January in return for Simmons this summer:

"They're asking for a lot, almost a Harden-Esque type package of All-Star player, draft picks, pick swaps"

—Woj on the 76ers' asking price for Ben Simmons#TheJump https://t.co/RvNhfOSrbe pic.twitter.com/IO2ZQBArJt
— The Jump on ESPN (@NBATheJump) July 28, 2021

As noted by ESPN, the original trade that sent Harden to the Brooklyn Nets also involved the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers. In total, Houston brought back Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, three unprotected first-round draft picks, a fourth first-round selection, and a handful of pick swaps.

Unlike Simmons, however, Harden made his move to Brooklyn as a one-time regular-season Most Valuable Player who had multiple scoring titles on his resume. The last time Simmons faced NBA defenses, he shot 34.2% from the free-throw line throughout the playoffs and appeared scared to even dunk the basketball.

The Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards have been linked with Simmons in recent trade rumors.

Zac Wassink is a football and futbol aficionado who is a PFWA member and is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment. Erik Lamela and Eli Manning apologist. Chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. Whoops. You can find him on Twitter at @ZacWassink.

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