The Philadelphia 76ers are still on the lookout for a final addition to their roster this offseason, having left one spot open. Several candidates remain available for the front office, but the most controversial option for them at this juncture is pursuing a reunion with former All-Star Ben Simmons. While that will divide a lot of people, his previous connection with LeBron James could actually make that a tad more feasible, if not easier to stomach.
Simmons was part of Klutch Sports' wide clientele in the past, with Rich Paul serving as his agent before he moved to another representation during his NBA career. At this point, Simmons is back with Klutch. That nexus with LeBron's so-called extended family remains, and that could certainly end up being a factor that will make it easier for the team to get into another partnership with their previous franchise player if they want to go that route.
76ers can reunite with Ben Simmons more easily if they want to thanks to his past connection with LeBron
Aside from being part of James' Klutch circle, he had close ties with the former 76ers star in the past when he was still in the league. They previously often worked out together during the summer. Early in his career, LeBron basically served as some sort of a mentor for Simmons.
The 76ers have had a dream offseason, but if there remain some areas that need addressing: defense and playmaking. Alas, those are the exact departments where Simmons should still be highly proficient, despite his sabbatical from the league, which has lasted for more than a calendar year now.
Obviously, aside from the off-court concerns with Simmons surrounding his commitment to his craft and the drama in Philly that remains unresolved for the most part, his injury risk is something that should not be glossed over. He was clearly not in the best shape during his most recent campaign in 2024-25, where he split time between Brooklyn and Los Angeles.
Still, the 76ers would be hard-pressed to find a more appealing player to occupy their final roster spot this year. Even if only for a training camp deal, Ben Simmons makes a lot of sense for the team for purely basketball reasons, and a reunion with him, while highly divisive, should be much easier with LeBron James now a part of the team.
Now, is Philadelphia's brain trust ready to get even bolder by chasing Simmons? Only time will tell.
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