Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: PG Ben Simmons, G/F Doug McDermott
Brooklyn Nets Receive: C Jakob Poeltl, G/F Josh Richardson, G Kendrick Nunn
San Antonio Spurs Receive: 2027 and 2029 unprotected first-round picks (via Los Angeles Lakers), 2023 and 2025 second-round picks (via Los Angeles Lakers), SG Max Christie, PG Russell Westbrook (to be bought out)
Klutch All-Stars assemble!
If there was ever a time to buy stock in Simmons, one of the NBA’s best, most versatile defenders and playmakers, this is it. Pairing him with a mentor of his in LeBron James, someone who will forever get the majority of the praise and criticism and help get the attention off Simmons, is an ideal situation for the 26-year-old as he makes his return to the court.
Simmons can handle the ball and run the offense while reducing the workload for James, and he should also be fine with Anthony Davis and the four-time MVP taking the majority of the shots. For a Lakers team that slipped to 21st in defense last season, swapping out Westbrook for Simmons is a massive upgrade that allows Los Angeles to use all sorts of lineups.
Shooting is an issue with Simmons, so the Lakers also pick up McDermott, one of the best floor-spacers in the NBA (42.2 percent from three last season).
If Brooklyn plans to keep Kyrie Irving, it doesn’t need another point guard like Simmons, especially with Patty Mills re-signing this offseason. Getting three starting-caliber pieces would help fill out the roster around Irving and Kevin Durant, which would possibly convince KD to drop his trade request.
Poeltl is a terrific defensive center, Richardson is a proven two-way wing and Nunn averaged 15.0 points per game and shot 39.2 percent from three as a starter in 2020-21.
For the Spurs to agree to take on Westbrook’s $47.1 million expiring deal and give up some good veterans, there has to be a fair amount of draft capital and young talent coming back.
San Antonio collects four picks (including two unprotected firsts from L.A.) as well as Christie, the No. 35 pick in the 2022 draft. The move also clears $13.8 million in cap space off the 2023 books and increases the chance of landing Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall pick.
New Big 3: LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Ben Simmons (with a supporting cast of Doug McDermott, Lonnie Walker IV, Talen Horton-Tucker, Thomas Bryant, Austin Reaves and Damian Jones)