Wizards advised against signing former 76ers star Ben Simmons

Dec 23, 2020; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) controls the ball against Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook (4) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

The Washington Wizards are in the midst of a rebuild, with several promising players poised to earn meaningful minutes next season.

Washington boasts a deep pool of young talent, including Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, Bub Carrington, Tre Johnson, AJ Johnson and Cam Whitmore. Alongside this youth movement, the team also features veterans Khris Middleton and CJ McCollum. 

While the Wizards could explore adding another veteran presence in three-time All-Star Ben Simmons, Tyrone Montgomery of SI.com advised against such a move. 

“With his skill set, he would be able to help the Wizards in many different ways, possibly playing every position for them,” he wrote. “However, it could come as a challenge for him mentally, ultimately resulting in a distraction to the Wizards in the end.” 

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Simmons’ best days are behind him. While his defensive versatility is tempting, the Wizards should prioritize giving their young players larger roles. With the team unlikely to compete in the near future, adding the former 76ers Rookie of the Year could hinder the development of Washington's young core. 

Rumors have already circulated about potential buyouts for the team's veterans, with Washington likely to fully embrace its youth movement. 

Simmons, who has bounced around the league in recent years, doesn't fit that mold. He has also dealt with injury concerns, appearing in just 108 regular-season games over the past four NBA seasons. 

His best years came with Philadelphia, where he averaged 15.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 56.0 percent from the field in 33.9 minutes per game over four seasons. 

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