When Ben Simmons Returns, Get Ready For The Sixer Shuffle

Sep 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) dribbles the ball during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) dribbles the ball during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
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Sep 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) dribbles the ball during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) dribbles the ball during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

He’s Got The Look

The current pace of roster changes will look very consistent when Ben Simmons arrives.

The reason?

The team is stacked with versatile basketball players.  Ben Simmons could play each position in the lineup.  So far, the challenge for head coach Brett Brown has been trying to find enough healthy players to fill the lineup with compatible players.  The strain of the roster injuries truly shows up when the team sends the bench onto the court.

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  • But the arrival of Ben Simmons acts like a domino effect. Placing him into the line will either give Robert Covington or Sergio Rodriguez the opportunity to come into the game off the bench. While he acclimates to playing with his team, he will simply ease into the roster with limited minutes.

    But Joel Embiid has been turning heads with managed minutes and Ben Simmons is just as poised athletically to do so.

    But what happens to the team as players take the bench?  Covington can play power forward, small forward, and shooting guard.  Rodriguez can play point guard or shooting guard.

    Why does that matter?