Ben Simmons’ name is back in the mix, and so are the old Philadelphia 76ers questions that come with it.
The former 76ers star is reportedly working toward an NBA return, training with the Australian National Basketball Team and drawing fresh attention because of social media clips that show him taking - and apparently making - jump shots. On the surface, the footage makes it look like Simmons has added something new. Philadelphia, though, has every reason to stay cautious.
Those videos are the kind that pop up every year: a player in the offseason or during a ramp-up period suddenly looks different, suddenly looks improved, suddenly looks like a problem solved. Simmons’ jumper becoming a talking point fits that pattern, and it doesn’t erase the bigger issue.
The Sixers could still see the appeal in a reunion on paper. Simmons would give them help as a playmaker and bring value on defense, two areas where he has long stood out. That part of the equation is easy to understand.
The shooting side is where the deal breaks down. Simmons’ inability to do much outside the paint remains a major obstacle, and it is not just about missing jumpers. The bigger concern is that he has also shown he does not want to take them in actual games.
A few smooth practice clips do not change that reality, especially after the one-year sabbatical he took to supposedly get his body right. The source of the skepticism is simple: player habits do not suddenly transform overnight, and if they do, it usually does not happen in a workout video.
So even with the current rumor mill tying him to Philadelphia again, the 76ers have no real reason to rush toward a reunion. Simmons may well land with a new team in the upcoming season, but based on what he has shown so far, he has not given the Sixers enough to make him a priority.
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