76ers' injury crisis must not lead to unforgivable reunion

In the most unsurprising set of circumstances that almost everyone could have predicted, the Philadelphia 76ers find themselves in the midst of another excruciating injury crisis. After an impressive start to the campaign, veteran center Andre Drummond now joins the injured troops on the sideline. With the roster now as scarce as ever, the annual Ben Simmons rumours have emerged, and the Sixers must do everything in their power to steer clear of this idea.

According to rumours circulating on X, current free agent Ben Simmons liked a comment on his Instagram profile proposing that he would be a welcome addition in Philadelphia, sparking a suggestion that an unlikely reunion could be on the horizon.

Even if Philadelphia did possess an abundance of roster spots (one remaining) and a two-way deal available to hand out, this is a transaction that Sixers' general manager Daryl Morey would be wise to avoid at all costs.

Ben Simmons will only add to the issues

Morey's persistence in chasing an NBA championship with this particular set of players has led the franchise to a familiar fate in terms of injury problems. Both Joel Embiid and Paul George have continued to struggle with consistent availability, leading to mounting pressure on the shoulders of head coach Nick Nurse.

If the 76ers are aiming to acquire a reliable option that will be at Nurse's beck and call whenever he is needed, Ben Simmons does not match this profile. Fitness issues are one of several woes that the former Sixers forward has been plagued with throughout a career that offered a high amount of promise.

Despite playing in the league for eight seasons since the Philadelphia 76ers utilised their first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft process to select him, Simmons has only featured in 60+ games in a season on two occasions. Ironically, both of these occasions were during his rookie and sophomore campaigns in the 'City of Brotherly Love'.

Unfortunately for Simmons, it is not just fitness problems that have hindered his ability to fulfill that limitless potential that Philadelphia fans once witnessed. The high-octane, explosive, rim-attacking rookie that captured the imaginations of NBA fanatics ceases to exist. Now, the 29-year-old is a shell of a player who was named Rookie of the Year after his 2017-18 season, and has undergone an extraordinary mentality shift that restricts him from attempting the simplest of layups.

One thing is for sure: Daryl Morey cannot afford to make this roster any more delicate than it already seems to be. The head coach must have players at his disposal who are not only willing to commit to all levels of the playbook but can actually be available for selection on a nightly basis.