NFL
By: Chris Jordan
What should the Philadelphia 76ers do with Ben Simmons this offseason?
This past postseason the 76ers fell short of reaching their goal which was the NBA finals or even getting to the Eastern Conference finals.
One of the main reasons why the 76ers fell short of their goal was the play of Ben Simmons. His inability of making free throws and having the confidence of taking shots outside the paint.
Since Simmons was drafted in 2016. He has not improved on his jump shot and his free shooting just seems to get worse.
Simmons shot 15-for-45 (33%) on foul shots against Atlanta and 34.2% from the line for the 2021 playoffs overall, accounting for the worst free-throw percentage in NBA playoff history for a player with at least 70 attempts.
That’s inexcusable for the point guard to shot that poorly from the free-throw line. There are centers in the league that have a better shooting percentage than Simmons.
After the disappointing ending for the 76ers and how Simmons became a liability for his team.
Simmons should feel embarrassed about his play and he should want to improve his game and turn his weakness into his strength.
Simmons is in the same draft class with Brandon Ingram, Jaylen Brown, Jamal Murray, Domantas Sabonis, and Pascal Siakam.
Simmons was the number one pick in the 2016 NBA draft. However, Simmons has not improved on his game like all the other players in his draft class.
With the three-point shot being so critical in today’s game. Simmon’s value may not be as high as other players in the NBA because of his inability to make shots and free throws.
One reason why some players have played in the NBA so long is their ability to adapt.
Simmons has yet to adapt to the way the NBA is played and it has been frustrating to watch as a fan because it seems like he just doesn’t care.
The best decision may be to move on from Simmons and have a better robin to play alongside Joel Embiid who is one of the most dominant players in the NBA.
With Embiid being a center he needs his robin to be able to make shots and space the floor out more so Embiid will have more room to operate. [pickup_prop id=”8504″]
Simmons and Embiid are not a great fit for each other and it has shown in the past few seasons because the 76ers have yet to make it to an Eastern Conference finals.
With the Eastern Conference getting tougher with the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, and the Atlanta Hawks. The 76ers are at least the 4th best team in their conference.
With Embiid getting older and with his injury history. The 76ers championship window is getting slimmer and slimmer every year.
If the 76ers decide to trade Simmons and improve their chances of winning a championship next season.
They should consider trading Simmons to one of these four teams. The Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, Spurs, and Rockets.
The 76ers could get Mike Conley with a sign and trade, Udoka Azubuike, and a first-round pick. Conley is a playmaker and he’s somebody that can create shots for Embiid and for like Tabis Harris, Seth Curry, and others. Unlike Simmons Conley can make shots from the perimeter.
If the 76ers trade Ben Simmons to the Chicago Bulls. They can trade for Zach LaVine and a first-round pick and they could also send Danny Green to the Chicago Bulls.
LaVine averaged 27.4 points per this season while shooting 41 percent from three-point range. LaVine could the missing piece that the 76ers need if they want any chance at winning a championship in the near future.
The 76ers could also trade Simmons to the San Antonio Spurs. For the past few seasons, the Spurs have been in a rebuilding mode and San Antonio hasn’t had a big name player since Kwahi Leanard was traded to the Toronto Raptors.
The 76ers could get DeMar DeRozen in a sign-and-trade, Lonnie Walker, and a first-round pick.
The 76ers can also trade Simmons to the Rockets who are also in rebuilding mode and need a franchise player they can build around. The Rockets need some attraction in Houston and Simmons could be the start of a new era.
The 76ers would get John Wall and two first-round picks, and the Rockets would get Ben Simmons and George Hill.
Will the 76ers trade Simmons elsewhere or will Simmons remain a Sixer?
