It turns out that the Indiana Pacers’ hiring of prized head coach Rick Carlisle was only a sign of things to come for the team in the offseason. Recently, multiple media outlets reported that the Blue and Gold offered guard Malcolm Brogdon and a first-round pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for disgruntled All-Star Ben Simmons, with the latter declining the proposal.
While Carlisle’s recent press conference had fans and pundits alike projecting the Pacers roster to relatively look the same, the recent trade proposal signifies that Indiana will be an aggressive key player in the trade market. However, with Philly refusing their reported package, it’s clear that the Sixers, with all kinds of leverage on their side, have loftier ideas to entice them to phase their young star out of town.
The Indiana Pacers can still get a deal done for Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons
While the fit is a dangling thought factoring in Ben Simmons in Indy, the Pacers would be hard-pressed to find a younger star with higher upside than him. After all, he’s one of the league’s best defenders and passers, and his only real weakness is his lack of acuity with shooting and aggressiveness to score.
If the Indiana Pacers are indeed determined to find a deal that works for the 24-year-old, then they will have to get a bit more creative, especially with Philly bannering Daryl Morey, who’s one of the better deal breakers in the association. Hence, here are three trade ideas to revise the prior Ben Simmons-Malcolm Brogdon swap.