The Lakers and the Sixers made a blockbuster trade, swapping top picks in order to make sure they both got their guy. The difference is that the Kings received All-Star point guard, Ben Simmons from Philadelphia while Los Angeles got Russell Westbrook from Oklahoma City. Though questioning how much upside either player has left in them at this stage of their careers, it’s clear that this will be one of the most impactful trades we’ve seen in recent memory for both teams involved with potential playoff implications.
The Lakers are coming off a demoralizing loss to the Warriors, while The Sixers have been on fire. This trade is historic for both teams and will change the landscape of NBA basketball forever.The “russell westbrook trade for ben simmons” is a trade that would be beneficial to both teams. The Lakers and the Sixers would be able to get players they want, while also giving up less than they would have liked.
Ben Simmons and Russell Westbrook are two names that are dominating the majority of news sources for very different reasons. Simmons has yet to appear in a game for the Philadelphia 76ers this season, and he has made it clear that he wants nothing to do with them. Simmons, a tremendous player in many areas of the court, let his playoff demons get the best of him last year after shooting the lowest FG % in NBA history. And, to be honest, the supporters of Philadelphia have turned against him.
It was stunning to watch him shoot 34.2 percent from the free-throw line as the team’s main decision-maker and ball-handler. Despite this, Simmons is one of the finest all-around players in the league, averaging 14.3 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game, and 6.9 assists per game last season. Philadelphia is 4-2 to start the season without their three-time All-Star after finishing first in the East last season.
Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook is taking a lot of heat for the Los Angeles Lakers’ sluggish start, as the point guard is a turnover machine who has struggled to be efficient on the floor. While these characteristics are obvious in a player who plays with a relentless drive, they are not ideal for a championship-bound squad. Westbrook is more than likely a leopard who will never change his stripes and will constantly battle to keep the game under control.
More significantly, his compatibility with LeBron James is in serious doubt. Russ has struggled to play off the ball, much as James Harden did in Houston, and this might be a concern for the Lakers in the future. Regardless of these concerns, Westbrook remains one of the top players at his position and a first-ballot Hall of Famer owing to his tenacity on the court. That’s why he could be better suited filling in for Ben Simmons in Philadelphia.
Is it realistic to believe that a Simmons-Westbrook trade would benefit both teams? Here’s why we believe it can.
LeBron James is a big fan of Simmons, who might be a future NBA player. LeBron James reincarnated
Ben Simmons’ game is well-known among LeBron James’ fans. Like LeBron, the Australian does a lot of things well on the court and has tremendous physical tools. LeBron performed as a general manager at the 2019 All-Star Draft, swapping Russell Westbrook for Ben Simmons. In a startling move, James sought out a player who he believed might help him win games and play with him more effectively. Needless to say, it worked, as Team LeBron eventually won the All-Star Game.
However, given the Lakers’ roster, Westbrook and LeBron are incompatible. Both players need the ball to be successful, and no one in their right mind wants James to be off the ball at any time. That means Westbrook will have to spend more time off the ball, a job he has failed miserably in so far. Russ is tearing it up on the floor without LeBron, despite his high turnovers and poor shooting percentages. With LeBron, Westbrook’s assist totals will plummet.
Simmons can be a lockdown defender who can guard several spots and a more controlled facilitator than Russ with James and Davis on the floor. Simmons is bigger, more defensively minded, and has a chance to match his “mentor” LeBron James’s potential. Simmons has a lot of LeBron’s game in him; all he needs is a mentor, and playing for the Lakers will provide that. Simmons has the potential to be the franchise player that leads the Lakers forward with Anthony Davis in the long run.
Every player in the league, even Ben Simmons, has flaws. However, since he is younger and has a better potential than Westbrook, he may be able to take his game to new heights with LeBron. Even the presence of LeBron James will not be able to alter Westbrook for who he has always been.
Joel Embiid Picks Up A Teammate Without Fear Of Losing His Job
Joel Embiid is a superstar and probably the game’s best center. Embiid showed the NBA world that he has improved his all-around game after averaging 28.5 points per game and placing second in the MVP race last season. When he’s healthy, Embiid is as dominating as a player can be, and he’s one of the league’s top-10 players right now. However, after Jimmy Butler’s departure from the squad, he has been without assistance.
Embiid has played in 51 games in each of the last two seasons and is prone to ailments at some point throughout the season. That means a player must be available to shoulder the scoring, assisting, and rebounding responsibilities while keeping the 76ers afloat at such times. We’ve already seen Russell Westbrook enjoy one of the best MVP seasons of all time after averaging a triple-double in 2017, a season in which the point guard was handed the team’s keys. When it comes to individual greatness, Westbrook is unfazed and will lead the 76ers with Tobias Harris once Embiid returns.
More significantly, Embiid has a teammate who is unfazed by the pressure of the occasion. Butler’s departure was a mistake, according to the big man, since the swingman guarded with zeal and was eager for huge moments. Philadelphia has become unintimidating for the top teams in the league since Butler’s departure. Embiid lacks a ruthless partner in the form of Ben Simmons, who passes up layups and also lacks the conviction to score. Despite his inefficiencies, Westbrook offers Embiid the assurance that he has someone who will go to the trenches when necessary.
Not to mention, Westbrook will be able to play right away instead of being a grumpy star whose trade value is dwindling. The 76ers must move quickly before the season reaches the halfway point, since each week that Simmons does not play or is dealt reduces their chances of winning a championship.
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The “ben simmons defense” is a player that the Lakers could use to help their team. The Sixers are trading Ben Simmons for Russell Westbrook, which would be an amazing trade for both teams.
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