If Ben Simmons Reaches Buyout With Nets, Should 76ers Be Interested In a Reunion?

After all the dust has settled from the NBA trade deadline, attention turns to adding players via the buyout market. The Philadelphia 76ers have one open roster spot. If they choose to fill it through the buyout market, should they be interested in a reunion with Ben Simmons?

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Brooklyn Nets are working on a buyout agreement with Simmons. The 28-year old is currently on the final year of a five-year, $177.2 million contract he signed back in the summer of 2019.

The Sixers could be interested in a reunion with the former No. 1 overall pick if he does indeed get bought out by the Nets. Simmons’ first tenure in Philadelphia ended with him forcing his way out, resulting in a trade with Brooklyn centered around James Harden. Since joining the Nets, Simmons has struggled to stay on the floor due to a myriad of injuries. He has played in just 90 of the Nets’ last 215 games over the previous three seasons. When he is on the floor, he is a diminished version of the player he was earlier in his career. He no longer possesses the same level of elite athleticism he had upon being drafted by the Sixers in 2016.

There are clear causes for concern about signing Simmons. However, he is still capable of being a useful role player assuming he can stay healthy. In 33 games this season, Simmons is averaging 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists per contest. He is far from the player who averaged upwards of 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists per game earlier in his career.

The Sixers should be one of the teams interested in signing Simmons if he becomes available on the buyout market. Despite his lack of scoring and decreased production overall, he still brings enough to the table to be a viable NBA role player. The Sixers have struggled both defensively and on the glass. Adding Simmons could help alleviate those issues. He remains a solid defender who, at 6-foot-10, is capable of defending multiple positions. Simmons also is an elite playmaker, averaging the sixth most assists (13.7) in the league per 100 possessions. For a team in need of more playmaking ability, Simmons should help a lot on that front.

Potentially signing Simmons on the buyout market does come with some risk. He has been unable to stay healthy over the past four seasons. When he is on the court, Simmons rarely looks to shoot the basketball. However, his overall skillset meshes well with multiple areas the Sixers are in need of improvement.

Despite the potential positives Simmons could bring to the floor when healthy, the Sixers are reportedly uninterested in a reunion. According to Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice, Philadelphia is not expected to pursue Simmons if he gets bought out by Brooklyn.

While Simmons could help round out the Sixers’ roster, there is ultimately too much risk involved with signing him. He still has potential to be a capable role player off the bench, but his biggest problem is staying on the floor. The Sixers have already been hammered by injuries this season. Adding another player with a lengthy injury history would not be the best use of resources.

The Sixers are more likely going to look towards elevating someone already on their roster. Justin Edwards, who is averaging 8.0 points and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 35.7% from 3-point range, is a prime candidate to have his two-way contract converted to a standard deal. Jared Butler, whom the team acquired at the trade deadline, is another potential option to fill their final roster spot. He is averaging 6.9 points and 2.6 assists in just 11.3 minutes per game this season.

A reunion with Simmons warrants some consideration, but is ultimately not the right move to make.