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Toronto Raptors: Pros and cons of a trade for Ben Simmons

By Mike Luciano

TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 21: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 21: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /
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Ben Simmons, Toronto Raptors
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – APRIL 26: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

Cons: Lack of improvement, limited offensive game, mental struggles

Simmons is a fine player as is, but he has not improved since he came into the professional ranks out of LSU. In fact, he may have gotten worse in some areas.

Simmons has the lowest points, rebounds, and assist per game averages of his career last year, and while Embiid taking most of the shots and rebounds certainly ate into that, this isn’t what Toronto wants to see if they want to trade away a franchise legend in order to add a new potential cornerstone.

Simmons had a jumper and mid-range game at LSU, but that seems to have been lost in the shuffle at the professional level. Simmons is a complete non-factor outside of the paint, and a guard with that player profile can’t succeed in Nurse’s offense.

The Toronto Raptors need to give Ben Simmons confidence.

Simmons’ issues are not just physical, they’re mental. The only explanation for shooting that poorly and passing up that many shots is that he’s in his own head. A trip to a sports psychologist could do wonders, as will a visit to a coach in Nurse that has a history of developing shooters.

The Raptors need to either work with a shooting coach or help Simmons mentally to the point he starts chucking it up more frequently. Failing to do so could make the Raptors another playoff early exit thanks to Simmons’ failures.