One of the biggest surprises in the NBA playoff last season was the 5-seeded Atlanta Hawks edging out the 1-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in seven games to move on to the Eastern Conference Finals, ending the 76ers season prematurely and causing a series of events that has changed the Sixers’ organization.
Atlanta exposed three-time All-Star Ben Simmons and his offensive flaws in this series, resulting in 76ers fans turning their backs on him and even head coach Doc Rivers stating that he was unsure if Simmons could be a championship-level point guard for this team.
While it was not entirely his fault whatsoever that the 76ers lost to the Hawks, Simmons took a lot of the blame for this series loss, resulting in him wanting out of Philadelphia and requesting a trade.
Who can really blame him at this point?
At just 25-years-old and being a three-time All-Star, Ben Simmons’ career is just taking off, but he finds himself in a city and on a team that has shown no willingness to want to work out his problems.
The only reason the 76ers have not traded him yet is because executive Daryl Morey and this front-office are wanting All-Star-level value in return, something none of the other 29 teams across the NBA have been willing to offer up for Simmons.
Averaging 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.7 steals for his career, as well as being one of the best all-around defenders in the NBA, there is definitely a lot to like about Ben Simmons and his potential moving forward.