It’s been more than 6 months since Ben Simmons asked to leave the Sixers, following the elimination in the playoffs against the Hawks. And with the approach of the trade deadline, the leader could finally be released by a franchise of the Eastern conference in distress.
Time passes, and despite his request to leave the franchise which now dates back more than 6 months, Ben Simmons is still a Sixers player. Finally, “player” is a big word since the All-Star leader does not train with his teammates, does not play, and above all he carries huge fines from his leaders. It has just exceeded a historical threshold.
But as the trade deadline approaches, things could get hectic in Philadelphia. Joel Embiid is indeed evolving at a level worthy of an MVP, and its leaders could finally decide to surround it in order to hope to do something in the playoffs, and for that a Ben Simmons exchange is necessary. That’s good, franchises in crisis could jump at the opportunity.
Ben Simmons direction Atlanta ?
In Atlanta for example, recurring defensive issues are starting to seriously annoy GM Travis Schlenk, who has openly announced that he would make important exchanges in the coming weeks to redress the bar. And according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, the Hawks could look into the profile of Ben Simmons, who would solve a lot of worries in Georgia.
The Hawks have what it takes to take a massive shot at improving their squad if they so choose. Ben Simmons, one of the best defensemen in the league, is still available. His defense would be greeted with open arms, and he could be a great point guard when Trae Young hits the bench, since he’s also one of the league’s top assistants.
Ben Simmons in Atlanta, that would be good. He would have no pressure offensively, with Trae Young being able to take his team to this level, and even worse, the two could create an unstoppable connection on pick and roll, with the Australian being, when he wants to, a excellent finisher near the circle. But it is especially on the defensive level that this All-Star would help the Hawks.
Atlanta has one of the worst defenses in the NBA right now, the team can’t keep even a comfortable lead, and that’s where all the bad results come from. Simmons would automatically become the leader of that squad, and with his size, he could defend against pretty much any opposing top player. And if the executives manage to keep De’Andre Hunter in the negotiations, the final conference finalists might become one of the best units in the league.
All specialists agree to say that Ben Simmons will be packing before the trade deadline, and Atlanta is obviously a franchise to watch in the negotiations. The point guard would actually be a big help in defense, which is crucial for the Hawks’ season.
