We don't have to fake liking Ben Simmons anymore. Lillard is gone, and we just wanted the Nets draft picks. Brooklyn is stuck with Ben, we can re-engage laughter when he's shooting airballs from 5 feet away.
Yet he would still be our best forward, best defender, and best backup PG. I agree he does not seem like a good fit with Scoot long-term, but the thought of Ben rebounding the ball and pushing it upcourt with Scoot and Shae and Ayton running downcourt would be exciting. And just think about him leading the 2nd team with Ant, Thybulle, and Murray.
It is always nice to have a forward that can push the ball like a pg. The problem I can envision is Simmons being too much of a pg instead of low post player. Simmons would need to accept the ancillary ball handler role with Scoot the clear cut leader. Not sure he could do that. Great height and defense. Simmons would certainly bring a ton of value, its accepting the role needed filled.
The thing with Ben Simmons is if these offers are getting really good, we might see Jrue for Ben and four FRPs. I don't know if Brooklyn values Jrue the same as some of these teams desperate for him but if they do that could be the offer. Then if Ben isn't a great long term fit we just hope he is ready to go and we feature the hell out of him and then try to trade him at the deadline to a team that needs someone with his...
Yep. I'd also assume that the Clippers have little desire to facilitate Holiday to the Sixers only to end up with Harden, when they could just try to deal with the Blazers instead and, in my view, get the clearly more positively impactful player.
Scoot can come off the bench his first year and still get 30 minutes. Once he develops his 3 pt shot I think him playing more minutes with Simmons would work. That combo with Sharpe would be fun to watch. Until then Simmons surrounded by Ant, Sharpe, Grant, and Ayton would be tough.
Maybe Miami learned their lesson about using the media to leverage Portland? We didn't hear anything about Lillard to the Bucks either...
Scoot's a great cutter and an alley-oop target. As seen in the first two possessions in this video, he can get a running start to take the hand-off then sprint to the hoop, and catch a lob on the break.
That should be the next priority for the team. Grant is a horrible rebounder and the best way to cover for it is to find a PF that will rebound and still space the floor. Grant handles the ball better than he's given credit for, imo, and SF suits his skillset the best. Also, no more being outsized at every position anymore. Length is a good thing.
Just not seeing much from LAC or Philly. New York has some stuff.... but it's not great. Miami still has their stuff.... but I suspect that relationship is irreparably busted. Chicago? Maybe. New Orleans? Sure, in a few months. Boston? We'd have to flip Brogdon. Lakers? Not for a few months. Brooklyn? I'd love it if we could work something out with Brooklyn but I'm not seeing it. Toronto? Not with Masai.
