Sixers will give Ben Simmons every chance to play the point
With the league's fifth-worst record, the 76ers are in line to receive a top pick in what is expected to be a guard-heavy NBA draft.
With the league's fifth-worst record, the 76ers are in line to receive a top pick in what is expected to be a guard-heavy NBA draft.
Will they use their pick on one of the elite point guards in the draft? Will they attempt to sign a top-notch veteran point guard in free agency?
Regardless of what they do, the Sixers (23-39) are still approaching things as if Ben Simmons is going to be their starting point guard.
"I feel that the team has to try that immediately," coach Brett Brown said. "In my eyes, we are going to try that. I feel that it's something that I doubt you say, 'That didn't work,' and you just move on quickly.
"There has to be a body of work that you judge him on."
Translation: The Sixers will give the former point forward from Louisiana State every opportunity to show that he can excel at point guard.
Simmons, the first overall pick in 2016 draft, will miss this entire season after surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his right foot.
He averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.0 steals as a freshman last season at LSU.
Among those expected to be the top point guards in June's draft are Washington's Markelle Fultz, UCLA's Lonzo Ball, North Carolina State's Dennis Smith Jr., and Kentucky's De'Aaron Fox. All are freshmen. Also in the mix is Frank Ntilikina, an 18-year-old French point guard.
Among the point guards expected to test free agency after the season are Golden State's Steph Curry, the Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Paul, Toronto's Kyle Lowry, New Orleans' Jrue Holiday, Indiana's Jeff Teague, and Utah's George Hill.
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