Charlotte Hornets: The case for a Ben Simmons trade

The Charlotte Hornets have had an interesting offseason so far. There’s been a lot of transactions – most of which have been deemed beneficial by fans. While the steps taken by the front office and general manager Mitch Kupchak have not been monumental, there is still one trade that could drastically change the outlook of the Hornets.

Charlotte Hornets: The case for a Ben Simmons trade

The Charlotte Hornets already have one player which has transformed the course of their franchise in LaMelo Ball. After a stunning Rookie of the Year season in 2020-21, management has to continue to look for opportunities to create a roster that is worthy of contending in the Eastern Conference. The ultimate goal for NBA teambuilding is to create a sustainable and consistent winner.

That brings us to the Philadelphia 76ers – who had a disappointing end to their season last year – losing to the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals (seven games).

The 76ers did not lose to the Hawks in the playoffs solely because of Ben Simmons – but he certainly had a rough series (to say the least). In the 2021 NBA playoffs, Simmons averaged 12 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists per game (2 TOV per game, 2.1 stocks [steals plus blocks] per game). The issue, however, came with Simmons’s free throws. On six attempts per game at the line, he hit only 34-percent of his shots in the playoffs.

That is, well.. it’s not good – and I’m not going to try and sugarcoat that performance. If the Hornets were to pursue a trade for Simmons, they would likely be giving up assets in the assumption that he is the second star in Charlotte – and he has to play better in the playoffs if the Hornets are going to bank on that.

Now, a trade for Ben Simmons could be a bit complicated, and I’ll have another article out soon about possible trade packages. However, with that said, the most likely piece that would be included in a Ben Simmons trade is Gordon Hayward (along with other assets, of course).

Okay – it’s come time for me to sell you on the idea of Ben Simmons in a Charlotte Hornets uniform. And I understand the hesitancy – I really do. It would be a risky move. Simmons is by no means a 100-percent safe asset. However what Simmons is, though, is a 24-year old 3-time NBA All-Star that has multiple All-Defensive teams under his belt, and is widely considered one of the best defenders in the league.

Charlotte Hornets: The case for a Ben Simmons trade

Additionally, the Charlotte Hornets already have an established point guard in LaMelo Ball. This likely means Simmons slides into a different role offensively – as a big man that sets screens, catches lobs, and gets work on the elbow as a facilitator and post scorer that can take advantage of mismatches. As it stands now, Simmons is tasked with a lot of half-court creation along the perimeter (and has been throughout his career), and that simply is not the best way to utilize his skills offensively.

Defensively, too, Simmons has the ability to transform what the Hornets could do. Getting a player that can switch onto any NBA player is special, especially with some of the woes they have had on that end in the past.

It’s not everyday that a young, multiple time All-Star with four years left on his contract becomes available via trade. There will undoubtedly be mixed feelings about Simmons as a player – and there should be. He’s inconsistent in how he goes about scoring and struggled in the playoffs this past year. But he makes sense for a Hornets team that hasn’t won a single playoff series since the expansion in 2004.