Raptors: Jaylen Brown-Ben Simmons trade would be bad for Toronto

While the Toronto Raptors have managed to be a relatively stable organization through the first few weeks of the 2021-22 season, the Philadelphia 76ers are still struggling with the Ben Simmons situation. Even after a few weeks, neither side appears closer towards any sort of breakup or reconciliation.

Simmons is digging in his heels and refusing to play for Philadelphia, and Daryl Morey is doing everything possible to sabotage this deal by continuing to ask for a ridiculous price to sell Simmons away.

Even after trying to coax Toronto into giving away most of their tangible assets for the former No. 1 overall pick, Morey remains committed to trying to get a haul in return. he might get bailed out by Brad Stevens over in Boston, as the Celtics haven’t reportedly closed the door on adding Simmons.

Shams Charania is reporting that the Celtics have expressed interest in trading for Simmons, though they would need to part with a budding star in Jaylen Brown in order to make a deal happen. We’ve seen stranger things happen in the NBA, and as long as Simmons’ name remains in the rumor mill, this can’t be discarded.

The Celtics getting Ben Simmons would be bad for the Toronto Raptors.

For all of Simmons’ issues as a basketball player, he’s one of the best defensive players this game has to offer. Rather than Tatum and Brown taking turns isolating on offense, Simmons could add a whole new dimension to their lineup by adding another good finisher inside.

Dennis Schroder and Marcus Smart are simply not getting it done, and Simmons could help Boston dig themselves out of the hole they’ve fallen in.

For Philadelphia, their offense doesn’t seem to miss Simmons that much, as they rank near the top of the league in both scoring and 3-point percentage. Brown has averaged 25.6 points per game this season, and if that number holds, it will be the sixth consecutive year in which he improved his scoring average.

Tyrese Maxey has done a solid job at point guard, and adding Brown to play on the wing could create a dangerous starting lineup that includes these two ascending players, Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, and Seth Curry.

The Celtics get a better schematic fit and the Sixers get even stronger. If the Raptors have eyes on the postseason, nothing about this trade is good news for them.

While the status quo of Simmons remaining on the 76ers roster while frozen out of the lineup is not going to last forever, Toronto has a better chance of making some noise in the division with this arrangement than they do with Simmons in green and white and Brown forming a borderline superteam in Philly.