It’s official – Ben Simmons will not play another game with the Philadelphia 76ers. Miami Heat fans may not care about this, but they definitely should.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Simmons has informed the 76ers that he will not play another game there and will not report to training camp. He has not spoken with the team since the end of August.
Simmons has made it clear that he has no intentions of remaining in Philadelphia, yet the 76erts haven’t found a trade offer they like just yet. This could lead to an absolute mess of a situation.
So, why should Miami Heat fans care about the Ben Simmons situation? Well, it could affect their chances in more ways than one, depending on how things play out.
Why the Ben Simmons situation affects the Miami Heat: The Philadelphia 76ers will probably get worse
This situation could actually be a good thing for the Miami Heat. If everything goes poorly for Philadelphia, Miami could see their playoff chances increase.
The 76ers are a top team in the East, but they may not be after Simmons is gone. Since they likely won’t get a great return for him, this is a lose-lose situation for the Sixers.
On the flip side, this should be music to Miami Heat fans’ ears. If the 76ers get worse, it improves the Heat’s chances of securing a higher seed in the Eastern Conference.
Fans should be keeping a close eye on the Simmons situation. It could have big-time implications on how the Eastern Conference plays out this season.
Why the Ben Simmons situation affects the Miami Heat: Another great team could emerge
While a Ben Simmons trade would likely make the 76ers worse, it could end up making another Eastern Conference team better. This would not be a good thing for the Miami Heat.
If another powerhouse emerges in the East, it could hurt Miami’s chances at a run this year. While Simmons has said he wants to play in California, there are some teams in the East who could put together a package.
A move to the Western Conference seems more likely, but don’t count out some teams in the East. Some intriguing options include the Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, and Indiana Pacers.
If any one of these teams managed to land Ben Simmons it would increase their playoffs chances. Each of them has a solid package to give up, too.
The Celtics would likely hold off on trading Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. However, they could still offer a package around other players.
Atlanta has a much more enticing package to offer. They could send a combination of Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Cam Reddish, Kevin Huerter, and De’Andre Hunter to Philadelphia.
Lastly, the Pacers could offer a fair deal as well. Malcolm Brogdon, TJ Warren, and picks could be enough to get it done now, despite Philadelphia declining that offer a couple of months back.
Regardless of the deal, the Miami Heat should not want to see Simmons on any of these teams. His trade value is at an all-time low, but he is still an All-Star caliber player.
Why the Ben Simmons situation affects the Miami Heat: They could still technically trade for him
Is it likely that the Miami Heat trade for Ben Simmons? No. Is it still technically possible for them to do so? Absolutely.
Adding Ben Simmons to a roster that already has a ton of defensive-minded players may not be the best idea. However, it could solidify the Heat as the best defense in NBA history.
In addition, Miami does have a solid package to send back in return for Simmons. They could offer a deal including Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro.
To be perfectly clear, this trade would probably not make the Heat a better basketball team. In fact, it would almost certainly be in their best interest to not trade for Simmons.
The only reason for bringing it up is that it is still technically possible. Maybe Pat Riley has the idea to form a defensive juggernaut and wants to pull the trigger on this.
The point is, fans should not disregard the Ben Simmons situation completely. It is an important one to monitor for all Eastern Conference teams hoping to make a deep playoff run.
