Free agency has not been very ideal for the Philadelphia 76ers this year. For the franchise, their offseason turnout has been average at best, especially since the front office still has some unfinished business, most notably in light of their ongoing standstill with Quentin Grimes.
Yet times seem to be even tougher for some people. That is most certainly the case with Ben Simmons, who suddenly finds his NBA career hanging on a thread after another unproductive season derailed by injury-caused decline.
According to recent reports, the former 76ers star is already mulling retirement –– a stunning development for the free agent. A couple of teams have previously expressed their interest in bringing him into the fold, most notably the Knicks, but with Simmons still not having a new home for next season, the will to remain in the league has understandably gotten tempered for the 29-year-old.
Still, this would be a huge bummer for Simmons who, despite injuries, still had a place in the NBA. After all, few players boast the skill set he has on such a big frame, and he would definitely be one of the biggest what-ifs in the league if he ends up leaving the league for good.
Former 76ers star Ben Simmons is considering retirement
Last season, Simmons split time with the Nets and the Clippers. His role gradually decreased with the latter, but overall, he tallied respectable averages of five points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per outing in only 22 minutes per contest.
His offensive struggles persisted, but he was still a very useful playmaker, especially on the break. Likewise, his defensive aptitude, while nowhere close to what it was when he had a functional back, was still there, although the Clippers did not rely on him much when it mattered the most.
Still, it would be a huge disappointment to see Simmons retire so soon. After all, there are still opportunities for him to showcase his game and potentially regain his confidence and mojo as a passing maestro who can guard all five positions and do nearly everything except shoot the rock and be a factor from outside the paint.
Hopefully, Simmons can figure it out soon enough. While his relationship with the 76ers have soured, it will surely hurt to see someone so gifted leave the game of basketball this early in his career, despite his well-pronounced struggles on and off the court.