Sixers: 3 potential starting lineup combos without Ben Simmons
A recent report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski confirmed the inevitable: Ben Simmons will hold out and intends to never play another game with the Sixers. With under a week until training camp, it would appear this saga has reached its boiling point.
That said, even with Simmons refusing to communicate with the team, Philadelphia isn’t necessarily in a rush. The 25-year-old has four fully guaranteed years left on his contract. The Sixers can comfortably let Simmons hold out if need be. Daryl Morey and the front office need to remain focused on getting the best trade return possible.
If this hold out does drag into the regular season, Doc Rivers will need to improvise. Simmons was a massive part of the Sixers’ success last season, and while his shortcomings are vast, his absence will cause a lot of problems. The question is: how can Rivers best make up for it?
Simmons is clearly aware of sanctions available to organization to fine and suspend him, including withholding of salary. But so far, Simmons appears willing to carry out a plan of forcing his way to a new team. Sixers have yet to find a a trade they’re willing to make for him. https://t.co/vxSrBUWjXw
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 21, 2021
The Sixers will not have Ben Simmons for training camp or the regular season.
Philadelphia’s starting five was one of the most dominant lineups in basketball last season, which has been par for the course during the Joel Embiid era. If you remove the Al Horford season from the mix, the Sixers have never struggled to field a competitive starting five around Embiid. Rivers might have the unenviable task of trying to extend that streak without a second All-Star.
The remainder of last season’s starting five is still on the roster — Embiid, Tobias Harris, Danny Green, and Seth Curry. Philadelphia hasn’t made many big splashes around them, the highlights of free agency being Andre Drummond and Georges Niang. Neither of them will start.
Let’s dive into the roster and the rotation, deciphering potential Ben-less starting fives — and maybe even picking a favorite.