The Ben Simmons trade rumors are swirling, even though the 2020-21 season hasn’t ended yet.
Simmons was great on the defensive end of the floor this season, but he was exposed for being one-dimensional, in terms of scoring ability. Opposing teams figured out that if they take away his penetration, he was virtually invisible on the box score. Just look at his final — and most important — game this season, when he scored only five points in Game 7 of the team’s second-round series against the Hawks.
And given that the Sixers are under a new regime, including having given the head coaching reins to Doc Rivers, it’s been speculated that the team could trade Simmons, while his stock is still on the higher side. The Sixers are a team that likes to stretch the floor and beat teams with their three-point shooting, but Simmons simply doesn’t fit that scheme. He attempted only 10 shots from behind the arc all season, and made three of them.
The tea leaves, as well as the rumor mill, seem to indicate Simmons will be traded. Rivers seems to want to retain the 24-year-old forward, though, judging by some recent comments he made to TMZ Sports.
“Ben’s great,” Rivers said. “I want him back. He’s terrific. He’ll be great. I think he doesn’t need a lot of fixing. He’s gonna be great for us. He’ll be great.”
It’d be interesting to see if team president Daryl Morey shares Rivers’ sentiments.
