The Sixers had become enamored with the idea of keeping the chemistry of this front-office group together, and probed outside candidates about how they thought that dynamic would work with a new leader. The Sixers won 52 games and advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals a year ago, returning a core that includes All-Star Joel Embiid and rookie of the year Ben Simmons. The Sixers are determined to use max salary space for a star complement to those young players next summer in free agency.
Ben Simmons Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: F
Born: 07/20/96
Height: 6-10 / 2.08
Weight:230 lbs. / 104.3 kg.
Salary: $6,434,520
Born: 07/20/96
Height: 6-10 / 2.08
Weight:230 lbs. / 104.3 kg.
Salary: $6,434,520
Simmons attempted just one 3 in the postseason, and he’ll have to establish some sort of long-range jumper to become a serious all-around threat in the NBA. “His jump shot’s not going to define him,” Brown said. “At some point, it will sure help. But I have aspirations, ambitions for him where I want him to feature on an all-defensive team. I personally want to post him more. I look forward to using him as a screener and giving Markelle the ball and let him roll out of it, that Blake Griffin-sort of half-roll and go to dunk.”
Simmons also needed work on his free throws — he made 191 of 341 for just 56 percent last season. “Imagine if he can score one more point, it translates to like three to five more wins,” Brown said. “When I look at how you’re going to do that, that’s one way that interests me, let’s just get him more free throws. Can you finish, can you be a better free-throw shooter than you were in the regular season? He has to be.”
Tom Moore: #Sixers Brett Brown on Ben Simmons’ jumper: ‘I think the man hours he has put in is impressive.’ Says he’s more confident in shot. ‘His jump shot is not going to define him.’
Jeff Zillgitt: LeBron James, SpringHill Entertainment land second script commitment with NBC, this one about a former WNBA player and coach who returns to her alma mater to coach the men’s team. Follows commitment this week from NBC for Ben Simmons-inspired TV show.
6d
