It’s time for this to be Joel Embiid‘s team. It’s pretty easy to make the argument that it already is and has been Embiid’s team, but it’s time to solidify what most fans have already felt the past few seasons. There is a lot to still be resolved with the Ben Simmons saga. What can the Sixers get now that the season is here? What is Simmons’ value? Can Doc Rivers actually convince him to return? Would that actually be a good thing if he did?
Joel Embiid is still ascending in the NBA. He made a huge leap last season. He’s always been a stat stuffer that looks great in a box score, but last year was different. He has always had the potential to be one of the most dominant players and most unique big men that league has ever seen. With Simmons gone, which for purposes of this article he is, it is Embiid’s time. Last year Embiid showed more than just the glimpses of dominance. He showed an ability to sustain it and be that guy night in and night out.
The Sixers are officially Joel Embiid’s team.
Having an offense run through Embiid gives not only him but the Sixers a chance to really flourish offensively. It will be an adjustment — you can’t just ignore the playmaking ability that Simmons brought to the floor — but in today’s NBA, it is easier to run the offense through a center with the range to step out and knock down a 3 than it is with a point guard who is allergic to shooting outside the paint.
The spacing will improve without Simmons there. The Sixers can turn their focus toward building a modern day roster. Space the floor with shooters around Embiid to allow him more room to operate in the paint. It’s time for the Sixers to turn their focus from getting back the best package possible to focusing on getting the best pieces — guys who can really fit with how the roster needs to be constructed. That’s not to say they should settle for cents on a dollar for a Ben Simmons trade, but change the approach they are taking. I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect multiple first-round picks back for Simmons, but getting back a starter and some great role playing pieces should be easy. Those pieces would be enough to ensure the success of a team built around Embiid.
I would stop short of saying it’s realistic to expect Joel Embiid to put up Nikola Jokic-type stats. He won’t average eight assists, but its very reasonable to think that running the offense through Embiid with better spacing could lead to four or five assists per game. Embiid should be headed for an MVP-level season. If he can do that, and the Sixers can adjust the way they approach the Simmons situation and what they are looking for in a trade, then moving on from Simmons sets this team up to make a run.
You can certainly argue that Simmons hurt the Sixers more than he helped them in the playoffs last year. Sixers fans should be excited to see how this team moves on from Simmons and sets a whole new team designed around Joel Embiid loose on the rest of the league.