Ben Simmons Is a PG if Drafted To The Philadelphia 76ers

If Ben Simmons is drafted to the Philadelphia 76ers, what position will he play? Perhaps he will be a point guard.

There has been a season long debate about who the Philadelphia 76ers should draft between Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram and I have already shared my take on that. But as many fans should know, we do not always get the player we want in the draft. It is always best to have a plan to make the best case scenario possible when getting the player you didn’t originally want. If the 76ers drafted Simmons, the best thing they can do to maximize the situation is to make Simmons a full time point guard.

Simmons has two elite abilities right now and that is getting to the free throw line and creating for others at his size. The average point guard has a higher usage than other positions so if Simmons were to play point guard, he’d have the ball in his hands much more, which means his two elite attributes would be maximized to the fullest.

Simmons playing point guard also maximizes his physical gifts. Standing at 6’10” and weighing 240 pounds, Simmons has only a solid frame for a power forward and an above average one for a small forward. But at point guard those measurables are unheard of and would be a major advantage.

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The crazy thing about Simmons is that you would think his measurables would slow him down but in reality he is always one of the fastest players on the court. When you combine his handle, vision, speed, strength, and height to see over the defense, it makes for an extraordinary playmaker. Want an example of 6’10” or taller playmakers? How about Giannis Antetokounmpo? Since his move to the point guard slot after the all star break Antetokounmpo has been averaging 20.1 points per game on 49.7% from the field, 9.7 rebounds per game, 7.8 assists per game, 1.8 blocks per game, and 1.9 steals per game in 13 games.

Antetokounmpo has been flat out dominating because of his physical tools and skills being used at the point guard spot. Simmons would be the only point guard who would even come close physically. To take it even further Simmons might even do a better job at it than Antetokounmpo.

The two are practically the same height but Simmons is stronger, arguably faster, and much more polished than Antetokounmpo was at the same age. Simmons also has better court vision in my opinion.

Antetokounmpo has the advantage in length and vertical leap (although Simmons can get up high as well). If the opposition tried to guard Simmons with another point guard, the buckets would be pouring in from post ups and he can’t be doubled because his passing is too good. With just an average jumpshot Simmons would virtually be unstoppable at the point guard position.

To make Simmons as effective as possible, he should have at least two shooters on the floor with him at all times and preferably three if possible. I think a lineup of Simmons, Jamal Murray (via Lakers Pick), Robert Covington, Saric, and either Nerlens Noel or Jahlil Okafor would be great.

The lineup with Noel would be one that has five players who can get up and down the floor with ease with three guys who can handle and create, three floor spacers, two good perimeter defenders, and one elite rim protector.

The other lineup with Okafor instead of Noel would still have the same things except elite rim protection while adding a guy who is a post scoring machine and wouldn’t be able to be doubled because of those three floor spacers. Having two guys who are elite at drawing attention (Simmons & Okafor) while those guys are both surrounded by shooters would be devastating to opposing defenses.

In the immediate future having Simmons wouldn’t be problematic. But in the long term once Joel Embiid starts picking up the minutes hopefully, someone will have to be moved. I just don’t think with the skill sets and amount of minutes in an NBA game Embiid, Saric, Noel, and Okafor can all be maximized to their best and get enough minutes because they all would deserve a starters amount of minutes.

Simmons would make it even more clunky because there needs to be a certain number of shooters on the floor with him. If Hinkie does decide to keep everyone for the long haul, I think the team would really have to push Embiid into becoming at least an average three point shooter/great long mid range shooter which is not impossible.

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Embiid looks to have a great stroke but nothing is concrete until he can prove it in game for an extended period of time. If Simmons can become at least an average shooter and plays point guard and Embiid can be a threat from range, then maybe this whole thing can work.