Ben Simmons was one of the most talked-about players during the NBA Playoffs this past season. Though this chatter was mostly negative, the Miami Heat should still monitor his situation closely.
The 6-10 point guard shot 34.2% from the free-throw line in the postseason. This marked the lowest free throw percentage ever.
Many fans blamed him for the 76ers’ second-round exit, and postgame comments from coaches and teammates made the entire situation even worse.
In the ensuing weeks, Simmons’ name has constantly been brought up in trade talks. Shams Charania confirmed these rumors in a recent article for The Athletic.
"“The 76ers have opened up trade conversations surrounding Simmons and have engaged with teams,” said Charania."
Despite how many fans have ragged on Simmons, he still has extremely high trade value around the league.
Charania spoke to multiple sources concerning his trade value and what the 76ers are looking for in return. “(The 76ers) want an All-Star-caliber player in return,” mentioned one source he talked with.
Regardless of his offensive struggles, Simmons is still one of the best defenders in the NBA. He was a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year award and was named to All-Defense First Team last season.
"“Interest across the league in Simmons remains robust. He’s turning just 25 this month, was an All-NBA team member in 2019-20, is a two-time All-Defensive first-team member, and a Rookie of the Year award winner. Simmons is under contract through 2025, making him the type of superstar talent that rarely becomes available at an attainable price at this juncture of his career,” stated Charania."
Obviously, teams around the league still value Simmons. His defense has the chance to make a huge impact on winning in the right situation.
With all that in mind, how would Simmons be able to help the Miami Heat?