Would you rather build around Zion Williamson or Ben Simmons?
By Luke Duffy
The NBA is a fickle and fast-moving world, and this is something that Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans has really found out this season. Not so long ago he was thought of as the solution for practically every franchise in the league, with the Pelicans lucky enough to land the first overall pick to take him in the 2019 draft.
He had the explosive game, memorable single name, and the world at his feet. But ankle surgery that was worryingly disclosed for the first time at media day to begin the season set the tone, with a recent sighting of Williamson doing little to quell the feeling that this is a young player who is not close to returning and is enjoying his time away from the court.
With so much uncertainty around Zion Williamson already in his career, it begs the question, would you rather build around him or Ben Simmons?
That’s a crazy question, right? Williamson is potentially a generational talent who many hope will one day be the best player on a team that makes a deep playoff run.
Only isn’t that what Simmons was supposed to be when the Philadelphia 76ers took him first overall in 2016? To be fair to Simmons, he has also been to the postseason numerous times in his career so far as well.
Granted, Joel Embiid had a lot to do with that, and the deficiencies of Simmons have been fully on display during the 76ers biggest moment. Which is why he hasn’t been seen much this season either, just like Williamson. Simmons is desperate to leave Philadelphia, but with trade value that has tanked, he finds himself stuck on the shelf.