How Ben Simmons Trade Drama Affects Chicago Bulls

Ben Simmons isn’t going to report to Philadelphia 76ers training camp and has no intention of playing for the Sixers ever again, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. This situation has been trending in this direction ever since the Sixers were upset by the Atlanta Hawks in the playoffs, which was followed up by Joel Embiid and Doc Rivers tossing Simmons under the bus after his infamous crunch-time failures.

The trade rumors began immediately after that, with Simmons ultimately requesting a trade earlier in the summer. Daryl Morey is driving a hard bargain in trade negotiations in hope of getting a major haul back for the three-time All-Star, but as talented as Simmons is, suitors are hesitant to give up too much for a player with such notable flaws.

Back when these trade rumors first started swirling, the idea of the Chicago Bulls getting involved in order to ramp up the talent level on the roster was an intriguing one. However, trading Zach LaVine in a Simmons deal was always a nonstarter, and the Bulls didn’t have much else on the roster to entice a Sixers team that wants win-now talent back in a trade. Chicago could have theoretically used Nikola Vucevic to get Simmons, with Vucevic going elsewhere because of the presence of Joel Embiid and other pieces going to Philly, but there’s no evidence of that ever being entertained.

Now, with training camp approaching after a big Bulls offseason, there’s even less reason to expect Chicago to be involved in a Simmons deal. Chicago doesn’t have a championship roster yet, but the team is primed to make a jump with a host of new players. Again, maybe the Bulls could get involved as a third team or something like that, but Simmons isn’t coming to Chicago.

Even so, the Bulls are surely monitoring this Simmons situation closely, because whatever happens with him will have an impact on the franchise. For one, the Sixers are one of the teams Chicago is chasing in the Eastern Conference. Philly has a talented roster with or without Simmons, but if this bleeds into the regular season, perhaps it impacts the results on the court and casts a pall on the whole franchise.

There’s also the matter of the trade itself. Assuming Simmons is dealt, whether it’s before the season or during the season, what the Sixers get back will impact how things go for them in 2021-22 and beyond. If they get a win-now package they like, Philly should be in good shape as a top contender in the Eastern Conference again. If not, though, they’re bound to take a step back.

Furthermore, where Simmons winds up could have a big impact on Chicago. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors are among the East teams that have been recently linked to Simmons, with the Indiana Pacers also rumored as an option earlier in the offseason. There have been a number of Western Conference teams tied to a Simmons pursuit, but if he stayed in the East, that could make a difference on the playoff chase the Bulls plan on being a part of this season.

With this Ben Simmons trade drama officially coming to a head, Chicago will be monitoring everything closely.