The Ben Simmons trade noise isn't going anywhere as the 2021-22 NBA season approaches. The Philadelphia 76ers star reportedly has asked for a trade, and many see the Warriors as a likely landing spot.
While NBC Sports Bay Area's Monte Poole reported the Warriors are split internally on acquiring Simmons, there is no doubt Golden State has the young players necessary to put together an intriguing package for any star who might become available.
However, The Athletic's Anthony Slater reported Thursday, citing sources, that the Warriors have "not initiated" any trade calls involving any of their young players, including James Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga, and have no plans to do so in the near future.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
That's not surprising given that Warriors owner Joe Lacob said it was unlikely the Warriors would pull off a trade for another star, and that he views Wiseman and Kuminga as the future stars for the post-Steph Curry era.
“And I know this isn’t popular with a lot of people," Lacob told Slater after the 2021 NBA Draft. "They think we ought to go get the next star. We already have the stars. And we have a payroll that’s — and I’ve said this when I was interviewed before, but nobody listened. It’s very unlikely, I’ve said that we’re not going to trade for anybody that people are expecting. Very unlikely. It’s not impossible. But if it was going to be somebody, it was going to be somebody really great. It was going to be a big trade. It’s unlikely.”
RELATED: Teams avoiding vaccinations risk wins, championships
Of course, a superstar could become available and Lacob's line of thinking could change. Simmons, however, isn't that star.
Golden State Warriors
Simmons is one of the best defenders in the NBA and an absolute destroyer of worlds in the open court. But when games slow down and the court shrinks, his offensive limitations become an issue, and that's something that could keep the Warriors from seriously entering the Simmons trade talks.
The noise will only get louder as the season nears. Daryl Morey isn't one to make a panic trade, so it's possible that Simmons will be a 76er for some time, even if he is a no-show in training camp or the preseason.
But as far as the Warriors are concerned, it doesn't appear that Simmons is a big enough prize to mortgage what they believe is a bright future. At least, not at the moment.