Morey is a former GM of the Houston Rockets and current President of the NBA. He has led several radical changes in his time, including changing players’ names to numbers on jerseys as well as instituting player-tracking systems. What he believes will be most difficult with blockchain though is figuring out how to get rid of referees.
The “ben simmons trade warriors” is a hot topic in the NBA right now. The Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey has stated that he sees this as his biggest asset. However, it has been a problem for the Warriors who have had to deal with injuries.
Ben Simmons’ position continues to test Daryl Morey’s patience. With the NBA trade deadline coming on Feb. 10, the major issue is whether Morey’s patience with the Philadelphia 76ers star will last until the summer. It’s also conceivable that what Morey views as a key piece of negotiation power is really an albatross around his neck.
Simmons hasn’t played for the Sixers this season and is in the second year of a five-year, $177 million supermax contract he signed in July of this year. That means a club that acquires Simmons will have possession of the three-time All-Star until 2024–25. Morey is emphasizing Simmons’ worth by highlighting the deal. However, reality may not support such viewpoint.
Ben Simmons is really valuable.
Ben Simmons’ supermax deal has three years and $108.8 million left on it. That may not be as useful as Daryl Morey seemed to think. | Getty Images/Tim Nwachukwu
Despite his troubles in the NBA Playoffs in 2021, Ben Simmons is an impact player who ticks a lot of boxes.
He’s everything a coach could desire on defense. At 6-foot-11 and 240 pounds, he’s a center with the speed and agility of a wing. Simmons is one of the few players on the court who can genuinely defend any position.
He’s a clever playmaker and a deadly finisher near the rim on offense. He has a lifetime restricted area shooting percentage of 71.6 percent and a floater range shooting percentage of 41.1 percent (inside 10 feet).
He’s a big man who can handle the ball and pass like a point guard. The jump shot is what’s lacking. And it is a part of the issue. Simmons enticed with video footage of him draining 3-pointer after 3-pointer over the course of multiple offseasons.
The jumper, however, was missing when the uniforms were put on and the buzzer rang. Only 1.1 percent of Simmons’ career 3-point tries have come from beyond the arc. Simmons has made five of his 34 career deep shots.
Simmons isn’t required to be guarded on the perimeter by opposing defenses. His guy, on the other hand, may sink into the paint and block up the paint for Joel Embiid.
This situation becomes much greater throughout the playoffs. Simmons’ aversion to shooting peaked in the Eastern Conference playoffs last season. During the remaining four games of the series, he didn’t take a shot in the fourth quarter. When you add in his poor free-throw shooting, it’s no surprise that coach Doc Rivers was hesitant to put him on the court in late-game scenarios.
Morey’s deal isn’t as appealing as he believes.
*{padding:0;margin:0;overflow:hidden} html,bodyheight:100% img,spanposition:absolute;width:100% ;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto;bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyhe spanheight:1.5em;text-align:center;font:48px/1.5 sans-serif;color:white;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow
Morey, the 76ers’ president of basketball operations, sees Ben Simmons’ deal as a plus. Other NBA executives, on the other hand, perceive it as a flaw.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Simmons’ contract’s final three years and $108.8 million make a trade more difficult, not easier:
“Some are concerned about the duration (and size) of his deal, which has been considered by the Sixers as a key bargaining point and reason for the high asking price due to the prospect of free agency being delayed.”
Opposing general managers are wary of allocating so much budget space to a player who has so many flaws in his game.
Despite Simmons’ abilities, Philadelphia has yet to go beyond the second round of the playoffs with him at point guard. During last year’s playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks taunted Simmons to shoot. Simmons refused to take the bait, memorably giving up a wide-open dunk in Game 7 to pass to a teammate who was being guarded.
Other teams are concerned about Ben Simmons.
*{padding:0;margin:0;overflow:hidden} html,bodyheight:100% img,spanposition:absolute;width:100% ;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto;bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyhe spanheight:1.5em;text-align:center;font:48px/1.5 sans-serif;color:white;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow
The worries about Ben Simmons, according to Amick, aren’t limited to one issue. Rather, a number of things are scaring off prospective suitors.
Simmons has a reputation for losing his confidence, fair or not. As a result, his performance suffers.
The mental-health difficulties Simmons is seeking therapy for, according to several of the executives quoted by Amick, are distinct from the on-court troubles.
There are also concerns about Simmons’ public quiet after last season’s ignominious end. It’s hardly an appealing profile, especially since Morey is allegedly looking for a top-30 player in exchange for Simmons.
Then there’s the latest news that Morey wants to bundle Tobias Harris’ final two years and $79.4 million in a possible trade with Simmons. From the perspective of the opposition front office, it’s like asking for top dollar to take two terrible contracts off Morey’s hands.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Simmons is being pursued by five clubs. When Harris’ name came up in talks, the Atlanta Hawks allegedly shut down. The Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Indiana Pacers are all said to be interested to differing degrees.
Morey seems to be misreading the market when it comes to Ben Simmons. This creates the possibility of the issue dragging on forever. That’s not ideal for a team like the 76ers, who want to win a championship.
Basketball Reference provided the statistics. Spotrac provided contract details.
Like Sportscasting on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @sportscasting19.
RELATED: The Philadelphia 76ers Need to Reconsider Their ‘Growing’ Asking Price for Ben Simmons Before the NBA Trade Deadline
Related Tag
- daryl morey
