1. Ben Simmons, Point Guard
It seems like the pairing of star point guard Ben Simmons and center Joel Embiid with the Philadelphia 76ers just isn’t meant to be over the long haul. The Sixers started to get friction it seemed in the media when the team wasn’t winning on the road and started slipping down the Eastern Conference standings in the middle of the season.
But the choice between building around either Simmons or Embiid is a really difficult one. If the Sixers had to choose, then it would likely be the one that has the more longevity of the two. Both Simmons and Embiid had their fair share of injury issues since beginning their NBA careers.
If the Sixers do somehow make Simmons available in a potential trade deal, then it would be worth the Bulls reaching out to see what could be done. Landing Simmons would completely shift the direction of the Bulls rebuild, and their backcourt rotation, but it would take a ton to get him to the Windy City in the first place.
In the season that is currently on pause for Simmons and the Sixers, he averaged 16.7 points per game, 7.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists, a league leading 2.1 steals, and 0.6 blocks. He shot 58.5 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 62.7 percent from the free-throw line. He’s already garnered two All-Star selections and won the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year award.