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It has been an eventful 2021 NBA offseason so far, with Ben Simmons at the center of most trade rumors. His poor shooting proved costly for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2021 NBA Playoffs, leading to another early postseason exit for the side.
Ben Simmons and the Sixers organization have been on the outs since the Game 7 loss against the Atlanta Hawks. It seems like the whole of Philly, fans and the Sixers organization alike, were against him.
Simmons' increasing frustration has been visible for a while now. The 6'11" point guard reportedly cut off communication with the Sixers organization, including his superstar buddy, Joel Embiid. Although Ben Simmons expressed his desire to stay at Philly earlier in the offseason, he has also indicated an interest in a change of scenery further down the line.
The young guard seems to be growing antsy, with news making the rounds that he might miss training camp if he is not traded before then. His relationship with head coach Doc Rivers has gone sour and is also reported to be irreversible.
All signs point towards a Simmons-Sixers breakup, but there might be some benefits for the player if he decides to stay. Here are five reasons why Ben Simmons should consider staying with the Philadelphia 76ers.
#5 Ben Simmons can bring a championship to the city that drafted him
Ben Simmons was selected with the first pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 NBA Draft and has since then plied his trade with the franchise. As it is with every No. 1 pick, winning a championship with the team that drafted you will be a dream come true.
The Philadelphia 76ers have the right pieces to win a championship. But they have struggled to put together a dominating run in the playoffs, thanks in no part to Ben Simmons' shooting struggles.
The Sixers have decent perimeter threats in Seth Curry and Danny Green, while Joel Embiid and Simmons can dominate the paint. If they can get these players to combine effectively, they will be difficult to stop. But for Simmons to be a threat in the paint, he needs to be able to convert when sent to the line.
#4 Simmons will have a guaranteed starting role
Regardless of his inefficiencies on offense, Ben Simmons' value to the Sixers cannot be questioned. He played a huge role in helping the team finish the 2020-21 NBA season ranked second in defensive rating (107.6). The season before, he led the league with 2.1 steals per game.
Ben Simmons has always received high praise from Doc Rivers. Rivers has continually emphasized that Simmons' role and value to the team goes beyond box-score numbers. That is why his past response regarding Ben's place on a championship team can be said to have come from an emotional place rather than what he truly thinks.
If Ben Simmons opts to stay, he will undoubtedly orchestrate the offense as he has done in seasons past. Barring his shooting woes, he is the master creator and helps the Sixers' offense run a lot more smoothly.
#3 Continued partnership with the league's most dominant big man
Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid have formed one of the most intriguing point guard-center partnerships in the NBA. As sensational as they have been in recent years, there is so much more the duo can achieve while playing together.
Embiid signed a contract extension that will keep him in Philly until 2027, while Ben Simmons' five-year contract will see him play for the Sixers until 2025. This time together will give both players a unique opportunity to continually understand and complement each other's game.
Simmons and Embiid's partnership is one to behold during the regular season as they have led the Sixers to several impeccable runs, including their most recent first-place finish in the East during the 2020-21 season.
#2 Another guaranteed postseason feature
Ben Simmons has never missed the NBA playoffs since joining the Philadelphia 76ers. If he stays with the Sixers, another postseason feature is guaranteed.
Although Simmons received most of the blame for his part in their 2021 disappointing run, the entire roster except Embiid has tended to lose their nerve during the playoffs.
Ben Simmons stands a good chance of qualifying for the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year if he stays in Philly. His partnership with Embiid has been the IT factor for the Sixers for years. Although they have not gone past the semi-finals in the last four years, things might be different in the 2022 NBA playoffs if Simmons stays with the Philadelphia 76ers.
#1 A chance to redeem himself in front of the Philly fans
We can already imagine the boos that will erupt on opening night if Ben Simmons features for the Philadelphia 76ers and puts a foot wrong. However, having another go at the NBA championship will be a rare opportunity to further prove his value to the Sixers.
The 76ers' loss to the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals during the 2020-21 NBA Season was devastating for the whole of Philly. Ben Simmons' unwillingness to shoot on occasion and his abysmal display from the free-throw line played a significant role in their loss. Regardless, his value in all other aspects of the game should not be overlooked.
A video clip of Ben Simmons practicing his three-point shooting with Rajon Rondo surfaced a while back, which shows his commitment to improving his game. If he continues to put in the work and can significantly improve that aspect of his game, Simmons would be the most complete guard in the modern-day NBA.
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