Ben Simmons was the pick that ‘the process’ was all about. Simmons was the one. He was anointed as the ‘next LeBron James’ by some and the Australian talent has been NBA ready for almost two years now. After he spent one underwhelming season at LSU, the forward was selected with the number one pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.
With Simmons drafted, a healthy Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor looking to improve on his lackluster rookie campaign and Nerlens Noel as a potential trade target for other teams to help the Sixers pull in more assets, the future for the 76ers looked very bright going into training camp. Then, the worst thing happened as the Sixers were closing up shop in their new training facility in New Jersey. Simmons went down with an injury.
What appeared to be a twisted ankle revealed to be a broken foot. The Sixers rookie is currently expected to miss about three months of time after he undergoes surgery this week. A broken foot has many people worried based on not only his sudden weight gain but also situations in the past from Kevin Durant and Yao Ming, among others. The good thing is, the 76ers aren’t looking to rush him back on the court.
They have nothing to lose with him missing time and it also appears his agent, Rich Paul, won’t be expecting him to come back anytime soon. The super agent for Simmons – who also represents John Wall, Eric Bledsoe, his childhood friend LeBron James and others – does not want his Klutch Sports client to take the floor this season for Philly.
Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News said the following on 97.5 The Fanatic.
I just got off the phone with somebody who I really trust in the NBA, and he’s like there’s no way his agent is going to let him play this year. That’s an injury that you don’t mess around with, and he thinks he’s going to keep him off his feet all year.
If Simmons would miss this entire upcoming season, it would make him the fourth first-round pick in the last three seasons to miss a major chunk of time for the 76ers. The third player in the last four years to miss his rookie season. Nerlens Noel missed his entire rookie season in 2014, Joel Embiid hasn’t played since he was drafted and Jahlil Okafor missed 29 games in his rookie campaign.
Simmons missing the season, if needed, would probably be the direction the team goes. The Sixers aren’t relying on him to be a difference maker this season but instead are banking on his future success. Yes, it absolutely sucks not seeing the number one overall pick in the NBA draft not make his debut but if keeping him off the court is the best scenario, then so be it.
