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Ben Simmons appears to have fallen out of favor with the Philadelphia 76ers fans after the team crashed out of the playoff semifinals. The Sixers lost game 7 at home to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. Simmons' shooting struggles continued in the series and scored just 33% of his free-throws, with the Hawks getting in his head by frequently hacking him on offense.
There's no doubting the 24-year-old's abilities, though, as a premier open-court guard. His size and athleticism mean he is able to attack the lane and either finish at the rim or sling a pass out to an open shooter. During the series with Atlanta, Simmons averaged 8.6 assists per game, including 13 on Sunday.
He is also an elite defender and was voted into the NBA's All-Defensive Team of the Year unanimously. But it is what Ben Simmons lacks on offense that could determine his future in Philadelphia and may ultimately spell the end of his career with the side that drafted him in 2016.
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In this article, we will look at five teams in the NBA who could benefit from Ben Simmons' skillset and who already have players that could team up well with him.
5 NBA sides that would be ideal landing spots for Ben Simmons
The Philadelphia 76ers are now looking at a situation where they need to either trade Ben Simmons or continue to build around him and Embiid. The former is under contract until the 2024-25 season, which means the Sixers front office doesn't need to rush into a decision.
However, with Embiid's injury history, his prime years may be coming to an end sooner than hoped. That could persuade Daryl Morey to listen to trade deals for Ben Simmons in the offseason just to test the waters and see what he could receive in return.
While the decision is out of his hands, it's no surprise Simmons wants to stay in Philly.
"I love this organization. The fans are great people. I had a bad series. I expect that (boos). It's Philly."
Nevertheless, he could benefit from a change of scenery and has inevitably lost value to the Philadelphia 76ers after his playoff performances. This may invite other teams to pose questions regarding his availability over the summer.
#5 Washington Wizards
One team who could definitely benefit from bringing in Ben Simmons is the Washington Wizards. A trade involving the two teams would essentially be the 76ers swapping defense for offense by offloading Simmons and Matisse Thybulle for Bradley Beal.
While Philadelphia will be sacrificing two All-NBA Defensive players, bringing in Beal's versatile, high-volume scoring is exactly what they need. In this scenario, Seth Curry and Tyrese Maxey could become the team's primary ball-handlers, although Beal can do that too.
Beal's shooting stats speak for themselves and he will be highly sought-after if he seeks a trade out of Washington. While he and Westbrook formed a formidable partnership this year, the Wizards are not on the trajectory to win a championship while the Sixers are. They struggled all year on defense, which Ben Simmons would promptly solve, and he could form a tough duo with Westbrook.
#4 Houston Rockets
Bradley Beal's former teammate, John Wall, hasn't had the kickstart to his career that he would've hoped for when moving to the Houston Rockets. The team tanked the season after losing James Harden and trading away Victor Oladipo. The Rockets also struggled with an injury to star Christian Wood.
They need youth and star power, both of which Ben Simmons provides. He could team up with breakout center Wood and a potential star draft pick for years to come, while the Sixers would benefit from Wall's steady scoring presence.
Wall has had his own setbacks due to injury in the past but could be reinvigorated by a chance to fight for the title. Although not as versatile on defense, he is extremely quick with his hands, averaging 1.7 steals throughout his career. Not only that, but he matches Ben Simmons' creativity while also putting up 20 points a night. This move would be a huge boost for the Philadelphia 76ers if Wall can stay fit and they can make peace with his max contract.
#3 San Antonio Spurs
The Philadelphia 76ers could certainly boost their scoring arsenal by making a deal with the San Antonio Spurs in the offseason. By sending Ben Simmons West, the Sixers could receive free agent DeMar DeRozan via a sign-and-trade with another player, such as shooting guard Lonnie Walker IV.
Ben Simmons needs a fresh start and what better set to do so in than with one of the greatest NBA coaches in history in Gregg Popovich. They have an exciting, developing roster that could be centered around the 24-year-old as the spearhead. Bringing him in while not losing DeRozan on a free would be a huge win for the Spurs, who could utilize his ability to find open scorers.
As for Philly, they would receive a versatile player in DeRozan who has been one of the most consistent scorers since entering the league. He has averaged over 20 points a game throughout his career and shoots at over 83% from the free-throw line. He has also improved his creativity in San Antonio and averaged a personal-best 6.9 assists per matchup this season.
#2 New York Knicks
One of the most-obvious sides in a trade deal for Ben Simmons is the New York Knicks. The franchise has enjoyed a revival under head coach Tom Thibodeau, with a return to the playoffs. They dominated the league on defense this year, a system that Simmons could fit into flawlessly.
There is widespread suggestion that the Knicks could part ways with Elfrid Payton in the offseason. They could be looking to bring in a new point guard or advance Immanuel Quickeley's importance. The Knicks could, therefore, build a backcourt for the future with Quickeley alongside Simmons, as well as Derrick Rose as backup.
The Knicks are reported to have as much as $50m in cap space, however, they have few legitimate options they could offer the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons. They could offer a back-up center to Embiid such as Mitchell Robinson and future draft picks, though that may not be enough. It all depends on how badly Morey wants to part ways with his man.
#1 Portland Trail Blazers
As NBA trade rumors began to circulate surrounding Ben Simmons' future, one team that consistently came up was the Portland Trail Blazers. And for good reason. A deal involving Simmons for Blazers guard CJ McCollum makes a lot of sense for both teams.
Ben Simmons would radically improve Portland's defensive standing, something they struggled with in the playoffs and could be the perfect partner for Damian Lillard. Lillard is one of the elite scorers in the league and ball handlers, which would draw attention away from Simmons' guard duties and allow him to do what he does best. The two could form a similar duo to that of Steph Curry and Draymond Green, who have dominated the league for years.
Although the Sixers will be bringing in a player who can create his own shot, a defensive backcourt between said player and Seth Curry makes the deal less appealing to Daryl Morey. Instead, the Trail Blazers may have to offer more to prize Ben Simmons away.
