It doesn’t happen as you might think, you know. Although the idea of stars returning to the teams that drafted them in full circle moments has a certain gravitas, the ones that leave their former franchises usually continue down that path. So, when NBA insider Jake Fischer relayed that he believes the Philadelphia 76ers looked into signing Los Angeles Clippers point guard Ben Simmons, it felt fanciful.
Sixers Looked Into Signing Former Face Of The Franchise Ben Simmons?
“I think Philadelphia sniffed around on Ben Simmons,” said Fischer on his NBA Insider Notebook (h/t RealGM).
“I really do.”
Yet, for Simmons and the Sixers, the surprise goes far beyond the surface.
A Bitter Breakup
Drafted first overall by Philadelphia in 2016, the 6-foot-10 floor general left the team via trade in 2022 as their partnership ended bitterly. Finding himself under fire for a critical mistake in the playoffs, his found his foxhole empty. It was a harsh reality for a cornerstone piece who helped lead the team to three postseason appearances in four seasons.
He didn’t just take exception to former Sixers head coach Doc Rivers and current face of the franchise Joel Embiid‘s comments though. An avalanche of criticism crushed his confidence. Philadelphia’s impatience pushed him away. Then, once he was finally traded, he had a string of back injuries that made him a shell of the player he once was.
A New Reality
Simmons’ stint with the Brooklyn Nets was largely forgettable.
He played just 57 games in his first two-plus seasons with the team, playing more passively than ever. This appeared to be at least partly impacted by the fact that he was legitimately unhealthy. However, there was also a mental component, Simmons showing a marked reluctance to score. After averaging 15.9 points per game with the 76ers, he was averaging 6.7 points per game with the Nets.
Attacking the rim far less than he did in Philadelphia, he relied on his playmaking and basketball IQ. No matter what he lost physically, his mind and instincts were as sharp as ever. Plus, he could still push the pace and is a truly gifted passer. Interestingly, because of his size and lack of range, he was used as both a point guard and a quasi-center. In some ways, he began playing a role similar to Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green.
With that being said, Simmons slowly but surely endeavored to add to his bag. This didn’t make him any more aggressive. Yet, he still made him a more dynamic scoring threat.
Why Him?
Simmons’s scoring numbers were still lackluster, but he looked as good as ever this season. So, upon reaching a buyout with the Nets, it made sense that multiple contenders were looking into signing him.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been vulnerable against longer and more athletic wings. The Houston Rockets have had some defensive slippage and could use an experienced facilitator. The Dallas Mavericks have lost Luka Doncic, a wizard on the hardwood. However, he signed with the Clippers, a team that wanted to keep using him the same way as Brooklyn.
12 PTS | 7 REB | 6 AST | 3 STLS
Ben Simmons with the strong Clippers debut
pic.twitter.com/saBFoI9M5g
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) February 14, 2025
Simmons certainly wouldn’t have helped Philadelphia stay healthy, an issue they’ve had all season. Though, with Embiid constantly out of the lineup, his ability to play center would come in handy. He also would’ve helped them shore up their porous perimeter defense with both his tangible and intangible traits.
Running the second unit behind Tyrese Maxey, he actually makes sense on paper.
The problem is that in between the lines is a lot of strained emotion. Maybe one day, they’ll be able to sweep everything under the rug. But now’s not the time.
And frankly, who knows whether they’ll ever be another?
© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
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