Philadelphia 76ers: A 2019 Christmas present for every player

Ben Simmons | Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Ben Simmons | Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Ben Simmons — A three-point shot

Okay, fine. I give in. Let’s gift Ben Simmons a three-point shot. Duh! Of course! This is obvious! And so on. As constructed, Ben Simmons is a top-25 NBA player. He’s a fringe Defensive Player of the Year candidate, he’s an elite assist man, and he’s an efficient interior scorer. However flawed he is, Simmons is a genuinely great talent.

The Sixers unfortunately lack the roster construction to maximize Simmons’ current skill set. It’s not a world-ending problem — I firmly believe the Sixers can contend without a sweet-shooting Simmons — but it would greatly improve Philadelphia’s title odds if Simmons started draining triples.

He doesn’t need to bury off-the-dribble threes at the top of the key. No one is asking for Damian Lillard. Simmons simply needs to occupy the corner and space the floor when he’s off-ball. It would give Joel Embiid more room inside, and allow the Sixers to more seamlessly exploit the countless double teams sent at Embiid.

Simmons adding even a mediocre three-point shot would also open up his repertoire in new and exciting ways. Rather than a canyon between him and his defender, Simmons would be able to weaponize his speed and handle against tighter defense. It helps him and his teammates.