Lack of shooting progress means Cavs shouldn’t trade for Ben Simmons

Ben Simmons, based on his postseason disappointment and his disappearing acts in fourth quarters in the Philadelphia 76ers’ Eastern Conference Semifinals series loss versus the Atlanta Hawks, combined with past playoff failures, seems to have his days numbered as a Sixer.

Of course, in a general sense over what’s been over time, Simmons and Joel Embiid’s somewhat clunky fit, with Embiid ideally being surrounded by four shooters, at least against quality competition, has ultimately led to Philly plateauing. That’s just my opinion, although one would assume that’s shared by many.

Now, Embiid’s injury history hasn’t aided Philadelphia, either, and in that semifinal series, he was playing with a small right lateral meniscus tear. Even with him gutting it out, it still led hurt Philly’s chances, for one.

Granted, 76ers head coach Doc Rivers deserved his share of blame too, and I’m not glossing over that. I don’t know what was going on with his rotations.

The year before, the Sixers, then with Brett Brown as their head coach still, were swept in their first round series against the Boston Celtics too, but Simmons wasn’t available then because of knee surgery.

Nonetheless, circling back to the present and over what’s been too many times when Simmons and the Sixers have seemingly disappointed in the postseason in those instances in the Semis, and that’s not including Embiid, realistically, it does appear that both Philly and Simmons need a change.

Albeit on that subject, I’d imagine plenty of squads will want to gauge interest in a potential trade for Simmons.

And while I’m personally out on the possibility, I’d think the Cleveland Cavaliers could be one of those squads. Cleveland is reportedly said to potentially consider moving their #3 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft for a star that could “accelerate their rebuild,” and perhaps with Simmons’ recent postseason woes, it could be a time when a club like the Cavs could be in the mix for him via trade.

Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com’s comments in a recent piece seemingly echoed that thought for a potential established All-Star player too, for what it’s worth. Plus, Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman’s comments of late made it appear Cleveland could be willing to move their high pick in this year’s draft for an established star.

Now, as far as a potential trade, while it’s uncertain if Philly might consider it, I’d think something along the lines of a deal including Kevin Love, regarding salary matching, Collin Sexton or perhaps Darius Garland, and Cleveland’s #3 pick in this upcoming draft would be an initial framework. That’s also with Philly’s roughly $8.2 million trade exception in mind from their prior dealing of Al Horford to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the time.

And post-draft, if there would maybe be a minor near-salary matching piece thrown in by the Sixers, perhaps that’d play out.

That said, although I understand possible interest in the 6-foot-11 Simmons, who is a three-time All-Star, one of the NBA’s best defensive players, a player with great vision and driving abilities, and is only 24 still, now I’m just hung up on one thing.

That’s the continued lack of shooting aside from push shots/drives and/or lack of progression as a jump shooter.

The Cavs shouldn’t try to trade for Simmons because of his lack of shooting progression with Philly.

Simply put, while I’m not at all discounting Simmons’ defensive abilities, nor his passing, transition abilities and his postseason experience, his lack of shooting threat outside the paint is still very concerning to me.

The Cavs shouldn’t trade for a non-shooter in Simmons

Yes, Simmons is again a three-time All-Star player. He was also second in voting for the 2020-2021 Defensive Player of the Year, is two-time All-Defense, was the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year and was All-NBA Third Team in the 2019-20 campaign.

Point being, the dude is a really good player and can legitimately guard all five positions on the floor, and has averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game in four seasons played.

To reiterate though, he has not progressed as a shooter, nor shown really any viability outside of the paint to this point. For a player that I don’t foresee switching to more of a big man role and has been a 1, that’s a problem.

Now, whether or not Simmons should commit full-time to changing his primary shooting hand, of which he reportedly might, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, and given how he shoots so often with that right hand on the interior/on push shots/short hooks, is another thing.

But no matter how you slice it, Simmons’ lack of shooting progression, and his lack of confidence in big spots, including at the free throw line, is still a glaring issue. He’s an outstanding finisher, as evidenced by his career 71.6 percent hit rate in the restricted area, and Simmons has at least shown some touch with both hands with push shots and some hooks, and even semi-sky hooks with both hands.

The problem is, Simmons has a lifetime free throw shooting hit rate of just 59.7 percent, and hit a less than stellar 61.3 percent from there in 2020-21. That, and him even rarely taking mid-range shots, and having taken just 34 total three-point shots in four seasons, of which he’s hit just five (a 14.7 percent clip), makes me question if he can ever be truly a viable shooter where it’s actually impactful.

And honestly, while I’m not discounting his playmaking feel, nor his driving ability, particularly in transition, the lack of shooting progression through four seasons to this point makes me question even with a top notch Cavs shooting/player development staff if Simmons can ever be a jump shooting threat. That’s not even factoring in the complete lack of three-point shooting.

Now I’m not necessarily questioning Simmons’ work ethic; I’m sure he’s put in his share of work. There’s just not been encouraging signs for him in the jump shooting realm, though, so why should I believe that if the Cavaliers were to potentially trade for Simmons, that things would change?

I know the Cavs have reportedly aided Collin Sexton and Larry Nance Jr., for instance, in that way, but we’ve seen the progression from both of them, and Sexton, who is a maniacal worker and truly basketball obsessed, even among pros, is Cleveland’s best scorer and one of its best shooters.

Sexton led Cleveland with 24.3 points per outing last season, and even with so many injury issues for the Cavaliers and shooting inconsistencies around him, he had a pretty robust 57.3 true shooting percentage. Through three seasons, he’s also hit 38.5 percent from three overall.

Additionally, from the Garland standpoint, while it’d appear that Sexton, with him set to be extension eligible could be more so possibly dealt in this potential scenario, Garland is a player that’s on an upward trajectory too, and his shooting/range and playmaking/handle help others around him as well.

The gyst is, with the Cavaliers’ shooting inconsistencies last season/the year prior, whether or not Kevin Love was available, I’d rather them not potentially give up either of their best young players in Garland or Sexton, who are their consistent shooters really, for a player that can’t shoot. Keep in mind, Cleveland last season was last in the league in three-point shooting percentage. And if a salary matching minor piece would perhaps be thrown in, it wouldn’t likely be a Sixers shooter.

Not to mention, it would seem that the Sixers, considering I’d still think a number of teams might be interested in Simmons, would obviously be fully wanting Cleveland’s #3 pick in return along with either Sexton or Garland and with Love for salary matching. Love when healthy is still a gifted shooter, defensive rebounder and quality passer too, as an aside.

There’s also seemingly the Cavs’ pick, and Simmons’ postseason woes/contract situation for a non-shooter

Anyway, while I’d get potential Cavaliers interest in Simmons, or that of some Cavs fans at least, in today’s three-point loving NBA, I’d rather not ship out either of seemingly Garland or Sexton, arguably Cleveland’s two best shooters/scorers, for a player that can’t shoot and can be minimized in settled offense.

That’s along with I’d imagine Cleveland’s #3 pick, with possibly the rights to a possible first option scorer in Jalen Green or two-way big in Evan Mobley, both of whom could end up being superstars in the near future, with that, too.

And Simmons is set to make roughly $33, $35, $38 and $40 million over the next four seasons, as the other kicker.

Moreover, if I’m the Cavs, I’d pass on potentially trading for what is currently a complete non-shooter outside the paint in Simmons. The guy in the postseason didn’t miss shots, he didn’t even take them when it mattered, even on the interior; this was h/t Tommy Beer of Forbes.

Simmons’ only had 9.9 points per outing in that Atlanta series, and in Philly’s 2019 East Semis loss to the Toronto Raptors, while Jimmy Butler was with Philly then, Simmons still had an underwhelming 11.6 points per contest. He’s been too tentative in big spots, and his driving hasn’t had nearly the same impact.

That I have a huge problem with and more so the mindset. And if possible, based on Fedor’s piece regarding potential targets, if Cleveland could maybe make a swing for New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram, who is a polished three-level scorer, I’d understand that much, much more so.

Last offseason, I understood possible interest if the opportunity were to present itself much more, but a trade for Simmons now? Hard pass, especially because I would think a potential Cavs offer would have to include this year’s first-round pick and not next year’s, for example.