Ben Simmons was drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in June, but has yet to play a game. He just might be the last big piece needed.
The Philadelphia 76ers are a much better basketball team this year than they were last year. In all reality, we shouldn’t be surprised at that, not one bit. When you replace players like Tony Wroten, JaKarr Sampson, and Kendall Marshall with Sergio Rodriguez, Gerald Henderson, and Jerryd Bayless, you’re bound to look more like a real basketball team.
The Sixers have been very close in a lot of games so far this season. Of course, there have been the few blowout losses that remind us that the Sixers still have a long ways to go, but in several games, the Sixers have been right there. Five of their 14 losses this season have been by 6 points or less.
They’re right there. There’s just something missing.
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Although it’s not incredibly clear exactly what that one thing is that’s missing (if we even can narrow it down to just one thing), it could very well be a player like Ben Simmons. Simmons was drafted by the Sixers in June this season with the top overall pick, and just like any other top overall pick, he was incredibly hyped. Fans were excited to see what Simmons could do for the Sixers.
He was supposed to take them to the next level, but he suffered a Jones Fracture one day in Sixers practice, and that sidelined him indefinitely. He’s likely to be cleared to come back in January of February, based on previous cases of Jones Fractures. He may offer them that final piece that really brings everything together.
Simmons fits in well with just about everyone on the roster, as he is a player that really falls right into the mold of versatility that a lot of other players on the roster do. Joel Embiid is taller than 7-foot and able to hit 3-pointers at a success rate of over 50 percent. Dario Saric is a fairly tall power forward that can do damage close to the hoop if he needs to, but can also stretch the floor. And Ben Simmons is a tall power forward that can move the ball all over the court. What’s not to love about a combination like that?
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Simmons is the type of player to make everyone around him better. He sees where the ball needs to go and puts it there. As far as generational talent goes, Simmons seems like he could be that. And the fact that the Sixers also have Joel Embiid, who looks as if he too could be generational, is incredible.
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There have been so many games in which the Sixers have been so close to winning this season. It really feels like at times they are right on the edge of victory, and just need one final piece to pull it together.
Simmons is that final piece.