Original trade: https://fanspo.com/nba/s/general/trades/Q4TNdo1XXzRBjQ/maybe-its-time-to-restart-the-ben-simmonsspurs-rumors

It's come to my attention that I was undervaluing Zach Collins in the previous trade I posted about Simmons to the Spurs. Thanks to emmanuelcharful, patrickdce, and vinz4239 for educating me on how Collins has improved in a larger role since the deadline. Also, thanks to emmanuelcharful for suggesting directly how I could improve the trade. This deal is a bit more balanced than the previous one. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Why the Nets do this:

The Nets appeal in this deal has always been to get off of the Simmons contract and acquire players who would be, for them, end-of-bench role players. The Nets have always been considered the winners of this deal, and this particular package is particularly nice for Brooklyn because Khem Birch and Zach Collins each fill a much-needed hole in the rotation at the backup center spot. They also acquire a few other guys in McDermott and Graham who are on much more tradeable contracts than Simmons and could also be end-of-bench depth pieces for the Nets. They also save a few dollars by trading away Mills, and manage to keep one of their late firsts in this draft.

Why the Spurs do this:

I expect to get some backlash on this explanation, and that's okay. I have an unpopular opinion that Ben Simmons isn't completely cooked, and still has some chance to return to form, even if it's unlikely. However, I feel that San Antonio provides Ben with the best possible opportunity, even with Wembanyama in the lineup. I'm under the assumption that Vic is the main reason that these Simmons/Spurs rumors have died down at all; people believe the Spurs wouldn't want Simmons' bad mindset to rub off on Wemby and ruin his career. This is a fair concern, but I feel like the benefits of this deal would outweigh the risks for San Antonio.

In fact, I feel that winning Vic in the lottery makes a Ben Simmons trade an even better idea for the Spurs than before. If this deal goes through, Simmons will have an opportunity he has never had before: he will be surrounded by a lineup of solid shooters all around him. If Simmons elects to play point guard, he's surrounded with Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Victor Wembanyama, and some other good shooter (Branham? A second-round pick? A free agent? Who knows). If he elects to play power forward, that fourth starting spot becomes Tre Jones playing point. Simmons has always been in a lineup with traditional centers (Embiid, Claxton) and this limits his potential operating room on the inside. However, the Spurs would have the opportunity to surround him with four shooters, which may just be the key to a breakout year from Simmons.

Beyond just spacing though, I see this Spurs group having even more great opportunities for Simmons. If there's one thing Simmons is great at, it's passing. Imagine a passer of Simmons' caliber feeding the ball to Wembanyama in the paint or from anywhere on the floor: It's a dream come true for both guys involved. The two-man duo of Simmons and Wembanyama will be one of the best guard-center duos in the Western Conference, rivaled only by Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic. Additionally, Gregg Popovich and the Spurs have been known to turn non-shooters into solid threats from three: think Kawhi Leonard, who came into the league as a defensive specialist and is now known as a two-way superstar after his stint with the Spurs. Overall, the Spurs are the best possible situation for Ben Simmons long-term.

The Spurs also manage to acquire a few more assets in this deal. Mills comes in to be a good veteran presence in the San Antonio locker room, and they get some picks; pick 21 as compensation for taking on Simmons, and pick 51 as compensation for the other three.

Conclusion:

Overall, I think both the Nets and Spurs ought to reconsider a Simmons deal. It could be mutually beneficial and allow both teams greater flexibility and a higher ceiling for next year and the future. If you've read this far, let me know what you think of this deal in the comments. I'd be happy to discuss it with you all!