2. He will become the best point guard in the East
Comparing talent between the Eastern and Western Conferences is akin to comparing the talent of LeBron James and Ben Simmons. One is really good, but the former exists on a different plane of basketball excellence. That helps Simmons in this regard.
There are some quality point guards in the Eastern Conference. Kyrie Irving, John Wall, Kyle Lowry and Kemba Walker are the first who come to mind. None of them, however, are transcendent talents in the same vein as Simmons.
Assuming he makes marginal improvements in key areas, it’s reasonable to expect Simmons to carry the mantle of best point guard in the Eastern Conference.
At 6-foot-10, Simmons is one of the most unique playmakers since LeBron James entered the league. He can’t shoot, but covers that deficiency with elite athleticism, an explosive first step and the ability to get to the rim at will.
He’s already an elite at-rim finisher, hitting 71 percent of his shots from that distance. Assuming he adds more touch on short-range shots — where he’s also extremely efficient — he will still be a viable secondary scorer without sniffing the three-point line.
The Sixers should also make it a priority to work Simmons off the ball more, leveraging his athleticism as a cutter and post-up threat. But that’s another argument for another day (or this article right here).
Simply put, Simmons is already an elite offensive talent as his rawest state. He will only improve next season, and he’s easily the best defensive player of the names mentioned above. Simmons is going to be the best point guard in the East by the end of next season, if he isn’t already there.