If you were the 76ers GM…

they need to move simmons, not to another team but to another position.  if you can’t shoot in this day and age’s nba, you have no business bringing up the ball and setting up the offense.  simmons on the perimeter is no better than MGK, payton, dunn, RHJ, etc.  all guys that never reached their potential and are relegated to the bench.  the difference is simmons has the size to be a PF and i truly think that’s where he needs to play.  philly needs to switch up their offense.  less simmons on the perimeter, more simmons in post.  let him utilize his post up abilities and utilize his ability to handle the ball in same manner as GS and Denver utilize green and jokic; more as secondary handlers in high screen sets. 

the rest of the team need to be floor spacers.  hopefully, butler comes back and a guy like danny green would be more impactful and even out touches than a jj redick.  use the rest to bring in a PG like terry rozier or derrick rose or combo guard that can handle the ball like a malcolm brogdon.  they also need some firepower off the bench.  maybe the draft will give them a big and zaire smith can provide a punch.

Embiid is just such a unique player, there is no way I could possibly justify trading him at this point. Guys with his talent at his size literally come around like once in a generation. The health issues are no doubt concerning but he has already shown at full strength what he can be. You have to bet he is going to get more serious about his training and conditioning in the future. In a couple years, if the same issues are still going on than maybe you start to consider it. 

I’d be slightly more inclined to possibly shop Simmons, but still doubt that I’d give it any real consideration. He’s just so young and talented, and the odds are probably pretty slim that you’d get a player in return with as much long-term upside. You have to just bet that he will work hard enough to eventually develop his jump shot and round out his game (although I kind of have serious questions about it). 

Considering all that went into building this core, it would be a pretty tough sell to abandon it now. Embiid is locked up on a pretty team friendly deal and they have the chance to extend Simmons this summer. With the potential that they have, I think you have to give them the time to grow and take their lumps and see how they respond. 

 Trade Embiid, Johnathan Simmons, 54 and 56, a future first rounder, and cash to New Orleans for Anthony Davis and 39.

Sign Kevin Durant.

Resign JJ Reddick

Get some backup centers.

Starting five: Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Amir Johnson/Greg Monroe/free agent.

Bench: TJ McConnell, JJ Reddick, Zhaire Smith, Bolden, and Boban.

KD is option 1.  AD is option 1a.  Jimmy Butler is the 3rd option.  Ben Simmons takes the other shots with the center getting garbage buckets.  JJ Reddick is the high volume shooter off the bench with some scrappy younger guys paired with Boban.

The Philly Five small ball lineups would obviously be Ben Simmons, JJ Reddick, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant, and Anthony Davis.

Ben Simmons has made one free throw in five games against Toronto. He took five shots in a blowout loss. The dude is softer than warm butter. He’s not a killer. He’s the opposite of a killer, whatever that is.

I don’t know if you trade him or not, but if you keep him, he will put together a career that will drive you mad because he doesn’t have what it takes to maximize his potential. 

That’s what I see.

 Simmons had shot 98 shots in the playoffs and only 1 has been outside the paint. If he cant develop a semi reliable jumper by next year. Yes I would trade him. You can’t score 7 points with that size and skill in a huge playoff game. I’ve seen his highschool mixtapes. He use to shoot 3s all the time in highschool. 

I would resign lol. The owner run things there. Brand suggested to trade simmons but the owner refused. Now maybe I can convince the owner after this playoffs.

The series isnt over but its not looking good for Philly. Embiid is going to face a ton of critisism this offseason for his play in the playoffs. You guys in this forum know I rarely have anything good to say about the 76ers and as much as I would love to jump on a lead the "Embiid and Simmons a chronic choker" banwagon, everyone really just needs to slow their role.

Theres three things I wanna highlight here. Maturity/Experience, Talent, Conditioning.

MATURITY

I said it before but the 76ers management and coaching that Embiid and Simmons have been brought up through have done a terrible job developing these guys. I remember Embiid’s rookie season he was claiming he was the lockeroom veteran of the team. Not a good start. They have not matured mentally. They have not played enough meaningful games. 

Look at Giannis for example. This is his fourth playoff appearance. All prior appearances bounced in the first round. This year is Embiid and Simmons second playoff appearance. They still havent learned the little things like how to adapt to the pressure of playoff defence and scrutiny, how to play through fouls, the noise and how to keep your emotions even keel inbetween a win or loss. Never get to high or low.

I seen the Raptors go through this learning curve as well and I can say the 76ers have done alot better than I expected all things being considered.

TALENT

Toronto is really an amazing team. The team defense they are showing Embiid is outstanding and he more often than not he is swarmed by 2 or 3 players, but its not just bodies being thrown at him recklessly. This is good defence by good defenders. Toronto has advanced in the playoffs 4 years in a row. Guys like Siakam were drafted onto a team with title expectations. His whole career has been about winning a title everyday, even the offseason. The fact that Philly even went up 2-1 needs to be thought of as an amazing feat, 76ers fans should be excited. AND THE SERIES ISNT OVER.

CONDITIONING/STYLE OF PLAY

How many times has someone said "Embiid looks off tonight". He’s gassed. The guy is 7’3 300 pounds and Im guessing has a bad diet. Not sure how Jokic is doing it (that guy is unreal) but big, big guys are not meant to be running around like this. When Shaq played 40 mpg they would walk up the court and set the offense. Now you guys are playing a run and gun style of offense and your nuetralizing your top talent by doing so. They need to hire a new coach and change the style of play so Embiid can stay on the court for more than 28mpg.

I would consider getting Simmons into the same role Giannis has. If that means he’s at the 4, so be it, but he could theoretically just start the offense full court and still be the 1. The primary option is that he drives for a dunk or shot in the lane, and if it’s not there, he passes to one of 4 shooters on the floor with him. It’s obviously effective – look at the Bucks. Ben has only been in the league a couple of years and Giannis has had much more time, so while Ben can’t do what Giannis does now, he’s well on the way and ahead of where Giannis was at this stage in his career. Potentially he can be just as effective. Giannis is stronger and a better scorer, but it’s basically just experience. The size difference is not that big and Ben is a better passer. Ben won’t provide the rim protection Giannis does, but he makes a defensive effort and he can rebound. So, that’d be my plan for Simmons.

BUT, you can’t do this with Embiid.

It’s a massive call to move Joel to keep Ben and honestly I wouldn’t do it. But I would definitely look to acquire Ben from the Sixers if I was one of these teams out of contention and looking to form a plan, and then id try him in this model Milwaukee has.

The type of teams that need a reset and have the assets to acquire Ben are few and far between though. Who has a big man that should predominately space the floor? Indiana with Turner maybe? Magic and Vooch/Bamba?

 The points made on this so far from what I have seen/read:

Embiid has more dog in him-More desire to be great vs Simmons who apparently has scoffed at trying to work on jumper apparently.

Embiid has the more polished game right now of the two.

Embiid has apparent clause in deal to protect team if a) games aren’t met and b) if his career ends

Simmons desire to be great is that of a wiggins and he is more concerned about hollywood lifestyle..

So with all that said:

Depends on the playstyle you want your team to play:

If I wanted to play a fast style of ball like the game when embiid was out and Simmons was the focal point I move embiid and surround him with shooters..Butler and Harris are a good start. As people have mentioned Using him like a Giannis(who his stats are very similar to at same point of career age wise) would be one way to maximize him. The other thing Simmons has over Embiid is the injury history currently, Embiid is unforunately starting to creep into that yao ming air of Injuries may derail his career..The awkward thing is he seems to be more injury prone since switching to under armour vs adidas..

Embiid: He has that polished game similar to Hakeem Olajuwon which is definitely easy to build around and the drive he has to be great and have a well rounded game make him easier to build around. However the thing is he is sort of like a Lonzo ball,by this I mean they really effect the game alot when playing but they hurt you due to all the time they miss..

With that being said if I was the GM I would talk to the Lakers and see if I could do a Lonzo ball and Ingram(if not medically retired like Bosh) for Simmons….Hear me out this may sound crazy. But this gives the 76ers crazy depth. Ball gives you the exact same things as Simmons except he will not be afraid to shoot which will allow Embiid to operated more efficiently on the block due to spacing. Ingram gives you that wing that has length and this allows you to slide Tobias to the four and Butler the SG spots giving you a pretty tigh defensive team that could also spread more scoring out to the bench. Simmons also wins: Lebron could mentor him to be the second coming of Lebron and He gets the hollywood life he apparently enjoys.

 I give them at least another year together before you give Ben big money.  You tanked for years to get these guys to blow it up so soon wouldn’t go over well. 

Embiid needs to be healthy…Simmons needs to learn to shoot….unfortunately neither of these things seem likely at this point. If I had to bet on one it would be Embiid being healthy simply because Simmons has not even shown the desire to add any sort of outside game in 2+ years in the league. 

The Rondo comparisons are close expect Rondo has made 50 three pointers or more each of the last 4 seasons. He has 341 (at 31.5%) career threes made….I would be stunned if Simmons makes 5 for his career. 

 Is a point PF, not a PG.