Can Ben Simmons Lead Philadelphia 76ers In Four Month Season?

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Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver holds a basketball while posing for a photo with draft prospects from left Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) , Ben Simmons (LSU), Brandon Ingram (Duke) and Kris Dunn (Providence) before the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

No Regrets

Some have suggested that the injury to Simmons is an indication that the team would have been better off to select Brandon Ingram. While that makes a great narrative catalyst for discussion, it really doesn’t hold much water.

Changing history only changes events. If the Philadelphia 76ers chose Brandon Ingram, it would have been his foot that was fractured in practice. So far, the rookie shooting guard is averaging 6.0 points per game while shooting just 35.9 percent from the floor, and a pedestrian 20 percent from three point range. That is behind all of the team’s shooting guards save one, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. Converserly, Ingram averages nearly 20 minutes per game to TLC’s 4 minutes.

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While Ingram may have a very bright future ahead of him, he’s shown nothing so far this season to suggest that he is skyrocketing to the top of the NBA.

But the Philadelphia 76ers have another top prospect in rehab? Well yes, but not only rehab. The two years time invested in Joel Embiid allowed him to perfect a wide array of shots, even from the perimeter. Now it’s Simmons’ turn. He can use this time to improve his shooting mechanics. Shooting was the one downside to a player who boasted excellence in virtually every other basketball skill.

In summer league, Simmons displayed a very well rounded basketball acumen. He played an average of 30.3 minutes, scored 12.3, rebounded 7.8, assisted 5.5, steals 1.5 and blocked .8 times per game. All the while, he shot 40.9 percent from the floor.