NBA All-Star Game 2018-19: Biggest Questions from the All-Star Draft

#3 Did the first ever All-Star draft trade make sense?

Simmons and Westbrook

One noteworthy aspect of the first ever televised All-Star draft was the trade of Westbrook for Simmons. James suggested the said swapping in order to facilitate having Westbrook and Embiid(who have had their tussles in the past) on one team.

In his words,

"Since it's that time of the year Ernie, and we know Giannis would like to see Russ and Embiid be teammates because we know how much they get along ... I'm proposing a Russell Westbrook for Ben Simmons trade"

To everyone's delight, James' proposition met the Freak's approval

“I know Ben Simmons is your guy,” Antetokounmpo said, “so I’ll do it.”

Well, some things don't necessarily have to make sense to be good. This was just entertaining television. James got his guy, Giannis got Westbrook in return and we all get to see Brodie and JoJo "get along" on the same team.

This was a LeBron-like move - diplomatic, aesthetically correct and working to his self-interest at the same time.

"Since it’s that time of the year…"We have our first ever #NBAAllStarDraft trade! 👀 pic.twitter.com/QIa0FXpR52

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 8, 2019