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There's been no shortage of superstar names being linked to the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason. One of the more intriguing ideas would be to bring in the talented, yet flawed Ben Simmons. The Philadelphia 76ers point forward has been much maligned for the Sixers' playoff struggles after being a virtual non-factor offensively when they needed him most.
Simmons would bring elite defensive versatility as well as his exceptional playmaking skills to the Purple & Gold. Looking beyond his evident imperfections on the offensive end, Ben Simmons is still a 3-time All-Star and can fall back into a 3rd place role behind the Lakers' two alphas in LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Whether they could actually muster up the offer necessary to entice the Sixers is a different discussion entirely, though. Philly is rumored to be seeking an All-Star in exchange for their own, as reported by Bleacher Report's Jason Dumas.
The Sixers have already fielded offers for Ben Simmons but continue to hold a stance that they will only trade him for an all-star caliber player. They most recently turned down a deal with the Pacers that included Malcolm Brogdon and a 1st round pick.
But if the Lakers do manage to build a package that the Sixers find worthy to trade Ben Simmons for, should they even pull the trigger? The allure of bringing in a big name for a fraction of what he used to cost is obviously something you'd consider. But there's one glaring reason the Lakers are better off using up their remaining assets elsewhere.
Why Ben Simmons-to-Lakers trade would backfire in LA
In a nutshell, the case against trading for Ben Simmons can be summed up with a very simple argument: Ben Simmons is terrific at what the Lakers are good at, and he's horrific at what the Lakers are bad at.
Lakers + Ben Simmons = Defensive overkill
The Los Angeles Lakers were the best defensive team in the league. They posted a defensive rating of 106.8, which was the best mark in the entire NBA during the regular season. The fact that they were able to maintain their high-level defense despite missing their best defender in Anthony Davis for basically half of the playing calendar just shows how it's ingrained in their identity as a team. With a hard-nosed defensive coach in Frank Vogel, LA has no trouble getting stops no matter who's out on the court.
Do you know who ranked second to the Lakers? Ben Simmons' Philadelphia 76ers. Big Ben placed second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and was arguably the best all-around defender in the league against all five positions. Adding a weapon like Simmons to an already suffocating defensive unit would be nice, but it would also be spending on luxury that they don't necessarily need.
This rings true especially considering that the Lakers actually have other glaring holes on their roster – ones that Ben Simmons won't be able to fill.
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Lakers + Ben Simmons = Brick city
Ben Simmons' laughable shooting exploits need no introduction. His first three ever made, which was during the first quarter of a regular season game, was celebrated like it was a game-winner. That's all that really needs to be said.
BEN SIMMONS FOR THREE!!!!
FIRST OF HIS CAREER pic.twitter.com/6156ibwK8n
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) November 21, 2019
I could throw a bunch of stats at you to explain just how badly the words “Ben Simmons” and “shooting” don't mix. But I honestly think that I could make up some outrageous claims about it, and it would still sound believable. That's simply how much cache there is in the “Ben Simmons can't shoot” narrative.
The Lakers, meanwhile, haven't been lethal shooters themselves. In fact, they were one of the worst in the NBA at spacing the floor from distance. LA ranked 21st in three-point percentage, 24th in three-point attempts, and 25th in three-point makes this past season. Even the Sixers, led by a hulking center in Joel Embiid and the most infamous non-shooter perhaps in NBA history in Ben Simmons, made more threes than the Lakers did on a per-game basis, ranking 23rd in three-pointers made per game.
While LeBron James and Anthony Davis have both made tremendous strides at becoming reliable outside scorers, it's still through penetration and overpowering their defenders that they do the most damage. Throwing Ben Simmons into that mix just seems like a disaster waiting to happen.
But of course, Ben Simmons hasn't even turned 25 yet. Perhaps he can be the younger star that rises alongside Anthony Davis when LeBron James inevitably rides off into the sunset. Maybe he can learn a thing or two from King James about creating on offense without a reliable outside shot, which LeBron did for a good chunk of his younger days.
There really is merit to acquiring him via trade. But are you really willing to gamble on LeBron James' last few years to take a chance on Ben Simmons? That's ultimately the question, one that really should be answered with a resounding no.
