The Chicago Bulls underwent a dramatic scheme change last season as they transformed into one of the fastest-paced teams in the NBA. Signing Ben Simmons could make them even more terrifying to stop in transition.
Simmons is a controversial and much-maligned figure in basketball circles, and for legitimate reasons.
He's a three-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year who made an All-NBA team and two All-Defense teams. He's also played in only 108 games over the last four seasons with averages of 5.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists while attempting fewer than five shots per game. He rarely gets to the free-throw line (1.0 per contest) and hasn't shot a three since the 2020-21 campaign.
Still, some teams will always be tantalized by what Simmons was and what he could become again, even if he never regains that All-NBA form. In the right system, maybe he could thrive again. Or at least thrive-ish. Billy Donovan is running one of those systems, and Simmons should pique the organization's interest.
The Chicago Bulls are an ideal fit for free agent guard Ben Simmons
There's a massive caveat that comes with any conversation surrounding Simmons, as alluded to above. Even when healthy, which has been wildly rare the last few seasons, the former No. 1 overall pick has been a zero on offense. Maybe even less than that, considering his heavy preference not to shoot.
Simmons was bought out by the Brooklyn Nets last year and signed with the LA Clippers for their playoff run. He averaged a whopping 2.9 points in 16.4 minutes per game across 18 appearances.
But the Bulls should be intrigued by what even a half-invested Simmons could add to their roster. The lineups the (somehow still) 28-year-old could unlock, even in small bursts, and how he could enhance what Chicago already does best is drool-worthy.
At his peak, Simmons was a 6-foot-10 playmaking point guard, a walking triple-double threat and one of the most versatile defenders in the NBA. In his first four seasons (he missed his actual first year due to injury), the Aussie averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.7 steals.
Then, something happened to Simmons during his last playoff series with the Philadelphia 76ers when he passed up a wide-open dunk and seemed terrified to try to score. He's never been the same since. But the Bulls wouldn't need him to put up points.
Chicago is expected to re-sign Josh Giddey, a jumbo, pass-first, playmaking floor general himself. The 22-year-old is the leader of Donovan's up-tempo offense that relies heavily on transition and floor spacing. He's a well-above-average rebounder for his position; that helps the Bulls kickstart fast break opportunities as Giddey can crash the glass and rush the ball up the floor himself or make well-timed outlet passes.
Simmons could do the same thing, giving Donovan two massive, playmaking point guards who can snatch a rebound and immediately get the team running. Simmons is certainly a drag on offense in the half court, but if Chicago is set on playing fast, opposing teams would have a difficult time getting back and setting their defense, which would help negate some of Simmons' adverse effects.
He's not the same All-NBA-caliber defender he was, but he's still an agile 6-foot-10 player who can, if nothing else, provide some extra size and length. The Bulls could use that on their roster.
Simmons is still a free agent and only a few teams have shown any interest, which means he wouldn't cost much. He wouldn't need to play more than 10 to 15 minutes a night off the bench. Bringing the former star on board would be a low-risk, high-reward proposition that might just work out for Chicago given his snug fit in the Bulls' scheme.