It has been no big secret that the Sixers have been shopping point guard Ben Simmons all summer with a heavy asking price. Daryl Morey and his front office have been turning down deal after deal, waiting for the right opportunity to send Simmons to a new home. However, as time has gone on and with training camp swiftly approaching, one can only wonder: What will happen if Ben Simmons stays on the Sixers?
Sixers Chemistry
Rumors have been swirling these last few months that Simmons has isolated himself from his Sixers teammates and staff. It has even been reported that Sixers big man Joel Embiid has reached out to Simmons on numerous occasions, but his calls have been left unanswered. If the rumors are true, it can be assumed that the Embiid and Simmons relationship has moved from fractured to nonexistent.
If Ben Simmons is to return this season, the Sixers locker room might end up being filled with awkward tension. Chemistry is such an integral part of a team, especially a team that is in “win now” mode like the Sixers.
This pairing of Embiid and Simmons is crucial to the team’s chances of hoisting the Larry O’Brien on Broad street, so if Simmons does remain a Sixer, damage control should be one of his main priorities.
Ben Simmons Fit
It was clear this postseason that Simmons looked off. He was not driving to the rim as often as he normally does, and passed the ball with wide open dunks, which is where his game shined. His free throw percentage plummeted, which it was never impressive to begin with. His head looked like it was anywhere but the court.
If Simmons is to return, Doc should really think of switching his lineup around. The Sixers cannot risk having a starting point guard struggle with scoring and foul shots again, especially if they want to advance past the second round of the playoffs. Ben Simmons is too talented to be shying away from being dominant in this game, and Doc Rivers needs to hold him accountable.
If the Sixers are looking to accomplish their goal of trading Simmons before training camp starts, they are working with a tight deadline of September 28th. The Sixers know how talented Simmons is and are not willing to compromise for the sake of just getting him off the team. They have stated they want an all-star caliber player. If they are not able to achieve this, Sixers fans might want to think twice before selling their Ben Simmons jerseys.
Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire
