Sixers news: Ben Simmons out indefinitely due to left knee injury

The Sixers will miss All-Star Ben Simmons for an indefinite period of time.

This is a brutal loss for the Sixers.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the official diagnosis on Ben Simmons‘ injured left knee is a “subluxation of the left patella.” Simmons hurt his knee in the third quarter of Wednesday’s win over the Washington Wizards.

Simmons is considering treatment options and is listed as out. That ominous verbiage — the fact that there are multiple options on the table — does not bode well for Simmons’ immediate future. This sounds like an injury that will take some time to heal.

Here is WebMD’s description of a kneecap subluxation.

"“This happens when your kneecap slides a little out of place but doesn’t dislocate entirely. It’s also a type of patellar instability… Symptoms that your kneecap has subluxated include: Pain in the front of your knee; a feeling that your kneecap is loose; your knee suddenly buckles"

This does not appear to be the career-altering sort of injury, but it could sideline Simmons for an extended amount of time. The Sixers start playoff basketball in roughly two weeks, and the absence of Simmons would greatly diminish their odds of success.

Of course, the Sixers should proceed with the longest view in the room. Simmons’ long-term health takes precedent over any short-term success, even if the Sixers advance in the playoffs. You want to keep Simmons healthy at all costs.

The Sixers will need to adjust in the meantime. Al Horford is the likely candidate to replace Simmons in the starting five. While Brown has effectively avoided any and all use of the Simmons–Horford–Embiid trio, the latter two have spent ample time together on the court so far in Orlando.

Horford still moves fairly well on the perimeter, and he’s enough of a spacer offensively to work next to Embiid as long as Simmons is not available. While his reintroduction to the starting five isn’t the most tantalizing proposition, it’s probably the most logical.

If the Sixers decide to keep Horford in a sixth man role, Matisse Thybulle or Furkan Korkmaz are probably next in line. That said, Glenn Robinson III could also be a viable option once he’s healthy if Brown wants to keep the second unit in tact.

The obvious hope is Simmons returns sooner than later and is ready for the postseason. The absence of ligament damage is crucial, and it removes any serious long-term concern. But the Sixers should not rush him back. Brett Brown says the Sixers should have a better understanding of Simmons’ timeline within 24 hours.