The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Brett Brown Needs Ben Simmons Return

By Bret Stuter

Jan 3, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) reacts with Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and guard Nik Stauskas (11) after hitting the game winning shot against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 93-91. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) reacts with Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and guard Nik Stauskas (11) after hitting the game winning shot against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 93-91. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown looks on in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The 76ers won 124-122. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown looks on in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The 76ers won 124-122. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Final Experiment

Brett Brown has been pushed to the brink. He’s had to manufacture an NBA team out of the mail order bride pieces of a roster available to him each of the past four season. And each season, the key piece has been missing.

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    • That is about to end, and not a moment too soon. Finally, the moment of truth will happen in February. From the moment Ben Simmons steps onto the basketball court, the team will run their final experiments.  Who can play with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons?  Brett Brown will be rushed to find out.

    You see, the team has four players on expiring contracts: Ersan Ilyasova, Nerlens Noel, Sergio Rodriguez, and T.J. McConnell.  Whether the team attempts to retain any could depend almost exclusively on games played after Simmons returns.

    Simmons will need help. With Embiid running the paint,  he will need spacing to open the floor. He will need scoring from the perimeter. Players like Dario Saric, Robert Covington, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, and Nik Stauskas will suddenly find themselves in the spotlight at various times in a game.