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Ben Simmons’ Trade Rumors Explode Following Abysmal Playoff Performances
By Shane Farias / FM Hip Hop
During a wild series with the Atlanta Hawks, the Philadelphia 76ers – top seed in the eastern conference – seemed guaranteed a trip to the Conference Finals. Amidst homecourt advantage in game 7, and a back-and-forth bout between the two teams, Ben Simmons’ struggles began to pile up.
And the numbers are meager, to say the least.
In seven games against Atlanta, Simmons took a total of three shots in 56 fourth-quarter minutes. He gave up a wide-open dunk and instead dished the ball to questionable shooter, Matisse Thybulle – trading a sure two points for one free throw.
Joel Embiid, the 76ers’ center, called it “the turning point of the game,” and for good reason.
photo credit – Fox Sports
Simmons finished the 2021 playoffs shooting 25-for-73 from the free-throw line. The 34.2 percentage from the line is the worst in NBA postseason history.
With all of this in mind, it is easy to see why Philly fans are praying for a Ben Simmons trade. If only the front office had been able to sense the upcoming disaster back in January, before his stock plummeted. Earlier in the year, a trade with the Houston Rockets might’ve landed James Harden in Philly instead of Brooklyn. Now, the Sixers would be lucky to get a washing machine in return.
The favorite and most popular prospective trade would send Simmons to the Portland Trailblazers in exchange for C.J. McCollum. Another rumor suggests an unlikely trade for Bradley Beal with the Washington Wizards. Whatever the case, there is no reason to risk a departure of Joel Embiid by keeping Simmons in Philly.
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