Philadelphia 76ers: What the rotation should look like with Jimmy Butler
Power Forward: Ben Simmons
The Simmons-Butler dynamic might be the most intriguing to monitor. Primary ball handling duties belong to Simmons, but meshing Butler, Embiid and a non-shooting lead guard will bring about natural growing pains.
In the end, though, the Sixers will remain an elite transition threat with two go-to options in the halfcourt setting. Butler will take the ball out of Simmons’ hands at times, allowing the 6-foot-10 prodigy to post up, cut and work more off-ball looks into his game.
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Becoming a reliable shooter would greatly benefit Simmons and his teammates, but that’s still nowhere near happening. Brett Brown and Simmons will need to get creative, but talent normally wins out in these scenarios. Simmons has enough talent.
On the defensive end, the Sixers will start two switchable, All-Defense caliber players in Simmons and Butler. Embiid will anchor the interior, warding off drivers and containing quicker players when forced onto the perimeter himself.
Simmons is further behind Embiid and Butler in his development, but he’s also 22. He’s a top-30 NBA player and trending upward.