It has been 72 days since Ben Simmons put on an embarrassing Game 7 performance against the Hawks that cast a shadow of darkness on his future in Philadelphia. We’ve spent the whole summer waiting for the news of a trade to drop. With the offseason becomes a thing of the past and with training camp on the horizon. It is time for Daryl Morey to double down or fold when it comes to Simmons.
What Went Wrong?
Simply put, Ben Simmons has tortured Sixers fans with a combination of potential and disappointment. Maybe being a player who drew comparisons to LeBron James out of college doomed him from the start. It could be that Philadelphia was too hard on him. Perhaps the noise from the media and fans finally got to him. The reason why Ben Simmons has yet to realize his full potential will remain hidden. What has begun to peak out of the darkness however is the fact that Simmons remaining on the roster under the current circumstances will become a distraction. Especially as this team tries to shift its focus to winning basketball games.
Finding a Resolution
The Ben Simmons saga will end one of two ways. The first being that he is traded and the Sixers can move on. The second being that he remains on the roster for the start of the season. With each passing day a new report comes out favoring both sides. All that tells us fans is that no one knows what the Sixers are doing. It would not be shocking if even Daryl Morey does not know what the Sixers are going to do.
With names like Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal on the trade market, the Sixers were never going to sell low on Simmons. Morey has a reputation for getting fair compensation back in his deals and understands Simmons is oozing with potential. With Lillard and Beal off the table, it has become clear that Sixers will have to settle if they want to trade Simmons. Knowing Morey is not one to settle, it leaves the Sixers back at square one.
While keeping Simmons around for the 2022 campaign is the doomsday scenario for many Sixers fans it can work. If Simmons keeps himself from being a distraction the team can succeed. If Simmons shows up, does what he is told, and keeps his mouth shut about potentially wanting out the Sixers will remain a good basketball team. Remember this team was the first seed in the Eastern Conference. Sure they likely will not contend for a title with the Simmons and Embiid duo but when the right move comes along Morey will move Simmons and build around Embiid.
It is truly a shame that the Sixers have to deal with all of these politics and antics but this is the hand that they were dealt. When you have a 25-year-old All-Star, disgruntled or not, you maximize him. At the end of the day, the NBA is a giant game of chess and most players are just mere pawns. Right now it is up to Daryl Morey to make sure Ben Simmons provides value to the Sixers franchise. Regardless of what he decides to do, he needs to do it sooner rather than later.
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The post The Ben Simmons Saga Needs to Reach a Conclusion appeared first on Philadelphia Sports Nation.
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