The Ben Simmons experience is on its last legs in Philadelphia. The likelihood that the 76ers point forward isn't traded before the season starts is reportedly slim to none at this point. That's why his veteran teammate Danny Green made sure to leave some advice for the embattled All-Star.
As his separation from the Sixers nears, Ben Simmons was urged by Green to use the opportunity to “reinvent” himself.
Via Noah Levick of NBC Sports:
“I usually use that advice for people that get traded, because we all hate to move as adults regardless,” he said. “But people look at it as a bad thing, being traded. I think you’ve got to look at the positives. Another team wants you, and there’s an opportunity for you to kind of reinvent yourself, reidentify yourself.”
The Sixers veteran emphasized that whatever happens, trade or not, Ben Simmons can still become the player he has the potential to be. Philadelphia has been a playoff team since Day 1 of Simmons' career. He hasn't had any opportunities to make mistakes or operate without the lens of a microscope staring down at him. The outside noise can indeed be deafening, but he can still aim to power through it.
“And that’s maybe why you hear the rumors of him wanting to go somewhere else or the team wanting to move him. Maybe he felt like he couldn’t reidentify himself here; he could do it better in another city. But that’s not always true. You can do that in the city that you play in. You can come back a different player. You have more time off this summer to work on some things, reset your mindset, reset yourself and hopefully come back a stronger player or different player. That would be my advice to him, of course.
Ben Simmons seems to have his days numbered as a Sixer. But his career has a long way to go. Whatever direction it takes beginning next season is up to him.
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