Indiana Pacers: 3 burning questions surrounding Ben Simmons

Which players are the Indiana Pacers willing to part with to acquire Ben Simmons?

Playoff underachievers usually have a damper on their value. However, Ben Simmons remains one of the league’s best two-way players, despite his lack of acuity in the perimeter. Already a Defensive Player of the Year candidate and a three-time All-Star, make no mistake: attempting to pry him away from Philly will demand an exhausting lot.

But maybe not anymore. After dragging the drama this long due to sky-high demands, the Philadelphia 76ers’ front office don’t really have as much leverage now. As a result, how much can the Indiana Pacers give in a hypothetical deal?

As the Sixers are building around Joel Embiid as the clear alpha, acquiring another big who will simply clog the lane should be out of the picture. That means taking both Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner out of the picture. Indy’s best offer in this sense will be two of Brogdon, Caris LeVert and TJ Warren. Dangling first-rounders will probably be a deal breaker, but the Pacers are in control of all their first-round draft picks.

Given Philly’s bonanza of wings, LeVert probably doesn’t fill an urgent need for them. However, Brogdon’s perimeter prowess and playmaking and Warren’s efficient scoring and size boast intriguing fits around Embiid and Tobias Harris, making for a fearsome quartet on both ends.

Question is, will the Pacers be willing to part with those players? Warren may be an easier sell due to his injury issues and expiring contract, but Brogdon remains a borderline All-Star player who has proven he can be a reliable three-level scorer and facilitator. And considering his emergence as Indiana’s leader, parting with him may spawn more questions than certainties.