Would you trade John Wall & 3 - 4 1st rounders for Ben Simmons?

What do you think Silas can do for Simmons that Brett Brown or Doc Rivers couldn't do? At this point it's not even about talent, ability or skill--it's about a mental block that prevents Simmons from actually shooting in game situations. He either refuses to do so or he's scared to do so. Either way that's not something Silas (or, as some weirdly thinks, John Lucas) can fix.

As for it being a "coaching failure" because doesn't know what to do when he doesn't have to ball or because he finds himself out of position, that's basically the good and bad of having Rivers as your coach--he's not an Xs and Os guy and he will let his players dictate how things are going to run on the floor for most of the game. Sure you can say "see! it's the coach's fault!" but the flip side of that is if we're (including Rivers) to assume that Ben Simmons' playmaking and court vision are on an elite level, he should by all accounts be able to dissect the defense and set up his teammates for success. It's not even that hard because the personnel that he plays with the most (e.g. his starting 5 teammates) are catered to mask his offensive weakness and enhance his strengths: he always has 4 teammates that can spread the floor with their ability to hit the 3 pointer and, when needed, he has a center that he can dump the ball to down low because said center is elite in the paint. Maybe Simmons need more structure....but that kind of puts into question whether or not Simmons is really elite as a point guard doesn't it? The great ones (Nash, Kidd, Harden for a year, etc.) found ways to find the open man on offense and exploit the defensive gaps without an over reliance on the offensive system. They used their play making ability and court vision to fill in the gaps where the system might have failed.

The coach and offensive system he and his staff put into place can only do so much; it's up to the players on the court to either execute the system or, when needed, adjust and find other options.

 

Good coaching can help turn bad habits into avg to good ones. I agree though, a large part of Simmons is mental based. We just spent a whole season, though, watching Rockets players give 200% even through all the ups and downs last season brought them. Just feels like Silas and that coaching staff has what it takes to get the best out of Simmons or just help him in general get past those mental blocks. That in top of a fresh start and little to no expectations could do wonders.

 

But we should have expectations if Simmons gets traded here. He's an All-Star, an All-Defensive team member, an All-NBA team member, etc. I mean that's what some on here has led me to believe that his accolades mean that he can and will carry this roster to new heights. Anything less than a playoff berth from a Simmons-led Rockets team would be considered a disaster right?

Sarcasm aside, Simmons need to be challenged and questioned whereever he ends up--the years of playing at the same level without any improvement are over, especially if he's wanting to be THE man on his own team.

 

Sorry doc is not a great coach, his teams had always flamed out. Celtics coached themselves

 

I think saying "Simmons need to be challenged and questioned" is the opposite approach you want to take here. Yes he should be held to the same level of accountability as the rest of the team, but let that be organic. Thats one of the positives of this team right now, everything is happening organically. Don't change that just because you traded for a player with accolades. Let's not become Philly 2.0.

 

Assuming you've followed the 76ers and Simmons since he was drafted, what about their approach (aside from the past year) wasn't done "organically"? Because if you have followed them, everything they've done as an organization has been "organic"--they've allowed him to work out at his own pace/discretion during the offseason, they gave him the green light to shoot if/when he wanted to without forcing it into the system, they didn't ask him to change his game while their other star has been steadily improving every year into an MVP-caliber player. They basically gave him freedom to do what he wanted and he took advantage of that. Then, after just one year of constructive criticism (which, btw, came at the end of their season because Doc defended and praised Simmons throughout the regular season), he gets butthurt because he couldn't take the heat?

This culture that Stone started to implement will work because of the players he has--they're young, they're inexperienced and they're a blank canvas in terms of how to approach the game as a professional NBA player. Simmons is going to enter his sixth season in the NBA, making max money, being coddled for most of his life...you think the best approach is to not challenge or question him? Especially, if the reports are true, when it's been stated that he wants to be THE man and lead his own team?

 

He couldnt take the heat in high school or in college either. This is a mental makeup issue. Spoiled star athlete used to having things their way. It's unfortunate because Ben has the potential to be great. To me, he falls in the Dwight Howard and Josh Smith category - no major improvements in their game upon arriving to the league. Great size and freakish athletic and got away with doing things that have always worked for them in their life at every level. I blame the inner circles for each player for being yes men and not keeping it real. Ben is a jumpshot away from being Lebron, but we'll never see that, unfortunately.

 

It's a throwaway fact I found but he's one out of only two former 1st round picks that couldn't get his team into the NCAA tournament. Sure the college game is more team-oriented but at least get your damn team to the dance. The other player is Markelle Fultz.

 

Boom!

 

Simmons in a Draymond Green role for Rockets would be massive. Make us playoff contenders for sure and rightfully so.

 

not even close

 

Draymond kicks nuts. Ben does his best trying to protect his nuts from being kicked.

 

People keep saying this but aside from the fact that Simmons has never in his life wanted to play in any role other than point guard, which Draymond Green are we talking about? The one on the 73-9 team that shot 38% from 3 and was on the All NBA and All Defensive team...or the more recent one that can't hit anything beyond 10 feet?

 

Simmons might be best defender in the league bro.

 

But Simmons has never been in this situation so maybe he has a change of heart. Play amazing defense, lead a break, finish in the paint, he's elite at all of those and that's enough.

 

100% cap.

 

elite in the paint?!....the man passed up an open dunk in the playoffs loololololol

 

lolololol however bad coach doc rivers might be hes still better at coaching then benn simmons is at playing

 

LOL elite in the paint. He's a scary ass in the paint who doesnt want to get fouled and go to the line

 

Cannot believe this thread. Have we not just watched the Pelicans screw up rebuilds two times in a row by trying to "win now" and go for it early?

Stay the course and build in an organic way. Tank for 2 more years, get high draft picks. At that point in time, Wall's contract and potentially Gordon's (If he is still here) come off the books. Add vets to our young core before our young guys get off of rookie contracts.

Jumping the gun now is a guaranteed way of having no impact on the league for the entire 2020s.