The Philadelphia 76ers plan to offer Ben Simmons a rich future in South Philly.
The discussion around Ben Simmons is vaguely irritating, if nothing else. It’s focused on his primary weakness, often ignoring overwhelming evidence of his positive impact on the court.
Going into next season, Simmons is primed to take another step forward. To establish himself as the Philadelphia 76ers‘ second-best player and a long-term cornerstone next to Joel Embiid. Those who called this past season a regression aren’t watch enough Sixers basketball. Simmons showed considerable improvement all season — especially in the playoffs.
Even without a workable jumper, I’m comfortable calling Simmons a top-30 NBA player at worst. He impact on both ends often gets overshadowed, whether it’s due to his wonky shot mechanics or the strange narrative around his personality.
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When aggressive, Simmons is an effective scorer. He can punish mismatches in the post, use long strides to attack the rim and thrives putting pressure on defenses in transition. His touch needs work, but there were glimpses last season. His physical tools alone yield favorable matchups on a regular basis.
As Simmons continues to come into his own as a player, his forays to the basket will only get more effective. When he’s decisive, looking for contact and emphatically looking for shots, his game opens up. It’s those brief moments of resistance that still bog Simmons down — something I anticipate him improving as time elapses.
Simmons has been historically productive at a young age, with his numbers earning loose Magic Johnson comparisons. He averaged 16.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists as a 22-year-old sophomore. He shot 56.3 percent from the field and increased his free throw percentage by four ticks — marginal, but notable improvement. The regression narrative, again, is ridiculous.
In addition to his growth on offense, Simmons expanded his game in the postseason. He ran more sets off ball — screen-and-rolls, cuts, dribble hand-offs, you name it. As Simmons continues to become more impactful without the ball, his impact in the postseason and high-leverage moments will skyrocket.
Defense remains a budding strong suit for Simmons as well. He was the Sixers’ top perimeter defender last season, thoroughly outshining Jimmy Butler and his profound reputation on that end. Simmons is an explosive 6-foot-10 athlete who bursts through screens and shows great anticipation skills. His defensive metrics against all five positions are wholly unique.
There’s no disputing the theoretical benefit of a functional jump shot in Ben Simmons’ arsenal. It’d launch him to top-10 player status. But even as currently constructed, continued growth in his present mold makes Simmons one of the NBA’s most dynamic two-way talents.
That’s why the Sixers are offering Simmons a five-year, $170 million extension, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. It’s a major commitment — especially to someone whose on-paper fit next to Joel Embiid is a perpetual point of contention among fans and analysts.
But over the past two seasons, there has been plenty of evidence to suggest Embiid and Simmons can coexist. That Embiid and Simmons can thrive. Last season, the pairing embraced each other to a new, encouraging degree. There’s no valid reason to break up the most talented 25-and-under duo in the NBA.
The Sixers can work around Simmons’ limitations and embrace his strengths. He’s too good in transition, too good on defense and too important as a facilitator not to re-sign on a max. He’s worth every penny coming his direction.