NBA power rankings: Sixers stuck in mud until Ben Simmons trade

The tide of NBA free agency has come and gone, with little more than ripples left on the water’s surface. Just about every important name has signed somewhere, with the notable exception of Lauri Markkanen, who could just end up staying in Chicago. We’re starting to get a firm grasp on the new NBA landscape — with the Sixers being a particularly notable exception.

Ben Simmons is the biggest domino still standing. We can wait patiently for Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal to get tired and demand a trade, but it’s Simmons who is actively frustrated with his situation to the point of no return. It’s Simmons who is in trade rumors every which way, seven days a week. It’s Simmons who has absolutely no path to a future with his current franchise.

The Sixers could look to run things back and brace for an uncomfortable four-month stretch between October and the February trade deadline. Or, Philadelphia could change the chemistry of the entire league with a blockbuster trade.

Until Ben Simmons gets traded, the Sixers are stuck in place. How does the rest of our NBA power rankings shake out?

With Ben Simmons on the roster, Philadelphia finished last season as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers are clearly contenders, and must navigate the Simmons trade waters carefully. Make the wrong move, and Philadelphia may lose ground in the title chase, rather than improve.

On the other hand, Simmons could help a lot of teams take the next step. Take for example the Kings, Spurs, Timberwolves, Raptors, and Pacers — all teams who have been tied to Simmons, and all teams who missed the playoffs last season. Or, you can even look at Golden State, a team trying to maximize the remaining prime years of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. There’s no doubt Simmons would help.

For now, let us look at the NBA landscape roughly two months out from the return of NBA basketball.