Philadelphia 76ers: 3 big questions heading into 2019-20

1. Can Ben Simmons make the leap?

Other than Joel Embiid staying healthy, Ben Simmons’ development is the biggest factor in elevating this team to the next level.

In order to stop defenses from relegating him to the dunker’s spot, he will have to prove he can make 3-pointers. Though most shooters would like to slowly expand from the mid-range out to the 3-point line, it’s not practical to let him start taking those now.

Granted, Al Horford’s awesome passing should open up chances for Simmons to cut and roll for easy baskets when Embiid is on the bench. But what about when the starting five are all together? The defense will be awesome, but the offense could be clunky if Simmons still can’t shoot.

The roster is set up for him to thrive. Grabbing a stretch-5 as Embiid’s backup (i.e. Simmons’ main center, since the two are staggered so often) and an array of athletic wings who can shoot is exactly what you should do around a player of Simmons’ ilk.

The front office has put a lot of capital into building around Simmons, meaning they are optimistic in his development.

Though fans will balk at his new max contract, it’s pretty clear that he’s worth that money even without a jump shot. He’s an exceptional defender, otherworldly passer, and ridiculous athlete in space. He’s a unique player with extremely rare blend of size, tools and IQ.

But for the Philadelphia 76ers to reach that championship level, he’ll need to add another layer.