Last Week: (W) over OKC, (L) to NYK, (W) over DET, (W) over ATL
Seth Curry scored 23 points in the first quarter of a surprisingly close win over the Oklahoma City Thunder early this past week. His ability to shoot from anywhere has helped to prop up an offensive that otherwise gets frequently stale without the playmaking of Ben Simmons on the floor. He is a vital player while Simmons is out, despite their complete difference in size playing style.
Joel Embiid is another MVP candidate, and the 76ers are handling business with losses to the two New York teams only. Tobias Harris has stepped up as the secondary scoring option, averaging 19.8 points per game with nine rebounds and an impressive 4.2 assists. The team will hopefully start to give Isaiah Joe and Paul Reed some more run to see what they can do.
Scares Me: Simmons plays and plays just ok. If Ben Simmons continues to find ways to hold out, eventually someone will decide to pay up and add an All-Star player. If he starts playing and is his normal self, he is the easiest to trade. If he is incredible, they keep him. If he’s purposefully awful the Sixers are motivated to move him and he probably doesn’t decrease his value.
Yet what if Simmons plays merely ok? What if he’s a reasonable 5th starter for a team that needs something more? Suddenly the 76ers lose their leverage, but won’t be able to trade him because they need a player of equal talent who is a better fit. Trading a back-end starter doesn’t net you an impact return, and especially not one making as much as Simmons. That could doom the team and Simmons’ options.