Philadelphia 76ers' general manager Daryl Morey has made his intentions clear: the franchise will enter the upcoming NBA campaign with a roster almost identical to the one that ended the previous year with a woeful 24-58 record.
To make this prospect a reality, the Sixers have retained the services of the veteran guard duo, Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry -- who have both signed one-year extensions. Not only this, but Philadelphia is continuing with its never-ending pursuit of Quentin Grimes, a signing that would bolster an already crowded guard position.
In addition, Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and the 76ers' freshest lottery draft selection, V.J Edgecombe, will be desperate to elevate their games to the next level by sealing a spot in the starting lineup when the season commences.
This raises the question: can the 76ers maximise the effectiveness of the plethora of guards at its disposal? With an abundance of scorers in the backcourt, should Morey be prioritising a player who is still searching for a home and has a keen eye for a decisive pass? An unlikely reunion after a fiery exit could pay dividends for all parties.
Things did not end well for Ben Simmons in Philadelphia
Sixers fans will widely refute the proposition of Ben Simmons returning to their beloved franchise after the embarrassing nature of his exit. After passing up a clear opportunity to slam the ball home in a game seven matchup with the Atlanta Hawks during the 2022 NBA Playoffs, things turned sour for the 2018 Rookie of the Year in Philadelphia, and he departed in a deal to move to the Brooklyn Nets.
However, years of battling constant injury issues and a severe nosedive in his level of performance, Simmons resembles a shadow of the player who was once considered one of the brightest young talents in the NBA. In recent days, reports have emerged that the former Sixers rookie is considering retirement.
An unwillingness to take open looks and easy jump shots has become a constant figure of the Australians' game, yet his offensive performances from the bench have not been as catastrophic as many spectators would lead you to believe.
Former guard could be a useful addition for the 76ers
After featuring for both the Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2023/24 campaign, Simmons displayed an impressive selection of attributes that would add a different dimension to the current guards that the 76ers' roster possesses.
Despite only starting 24 of the 51 games that he featured in last year, the LSU graduate averaged 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game while only being utilised for around 22 minutes during these appearances.
His scoring was an unsurprising issue over his tenure with both franchises in the previous season, registering five points and four field goal attempts per game. Nevertheless, when analysing the current Sixers roster, there are more than enough primary options on offense, which would allow Simmons to take a backseat and focus on playmaking.
The issue for Morey will not be what Ben Simmons brings to the team, but how quickly the fanbase will revolt when the 29-year-old turns in a below-par performance or suffers another season-ending injury. Would the potential of diversifying the 76ers' offense be enough for the general manager to take a monumental risk?