As he enters his sixth NBA season, 3x All-Star Ben Simmons faces a major crossroads in his career. According to Gilbert Arenas, who recently spoke on his podcast, Ben still has a chance to rejuvenate his career and take on a Draymond Green type of role on a team like the Phoenix Suns.
“Let’s say Ben Simmons is averaging 14, 8, and 8, and they trade him. He automatically heightens any team he goes to because you’re getting an All-NBA defensive player,” said Arenas. “The Phoenix Suns—you’re thinking about teams that can automatically change the roster. There’s going to be a West Coast team that is going to benefit from playing Ben Simmons basketball. They can move some pieces and now they just inherited a defensive player who can move the basketball… he could become Draymond Green.”
It’s been a rude awakening for Ben Simmons, a former UCLA phenom once hailed as the next NBA generational prospect. Ben drew comparisons to LeBron James in early scouting reports, and experts raved about his size, handles, and superior finishing ability.
Simmons was drafted first overall to the 76ers and he enjoyed prosperity for years alongside star big man Joel Embiid. By the end of the 2020-21 campaign, Simmons was a 3x All-Star on track for a Hall of Fame career in the NBA.
Amid growing tension between the star duo and a mental collapse against the Hawks in the Eastern Semi-Finals, the 76ers fell apart from the inside out starting with Ben Simmons’ trade request that summer. After a long and ugly standoff, Simmons finally got his wish… but his game has never been the same since.
After missing the entirety of the 2021-22 campaign, Simmons has played just 57 games over the past two seasons with averages of 6.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game on 57.0% shooting.
His confidence is completely shot, his jump shot is nonexistent, and his extensive injury history will make it extremely unlikely that he will ever recover his peak basketball form. But if he can adapt his skills and use his talent to make an impact in other areas, he can still be a valuable player in the league.
Despite his struggles, Simmons has never lost his defensive edge and he could be the perfect small-ball center to help run the offense and command the defense, much like Draymond Green did during his championship runs with the Warriors.
With just one year and $40 million left on his deal, Simmons is set to be a free agent next summer and what kind of contract he gets will lean heavily on how he performs over the next 8 months. Whether it’s with the Nets, Suns, or another team, this season will determine what comes next for Simmons and if he can revive his dying NBA career.
As a team desperate to win it all, the Suns have the means and the resources to deal for Simmons and it might just pay off to add him to the frontcourt with the best shooters in the game. For now, there’s just no way to know what’s next for him given the unpredictable nature of his own past.
