A move from point guard to power forward could revitalize the former All-Star, yet recurring health issues and spacing flaws threaten to derail a potential renuion
Ben Simmons returning to the Philadelphia 76ers would be strange, but not implausible.
When Simmons spoke with Men's Health Magazine, he teased a potential return to Philadelphia, sharing, "I plan on getting as strong as I can physically, getting my [expletive] on the court, and then the team realizing that my abilities will be needed. I don’t have a plan on where... Maybe I’ll go back to Philly."
As pleasant as the reunion sounds, it would need to look different from the first stint.
Simmons cannot return to Philadelphia as a point guard who controls the offense. That version of his career is over. The more realistic idea would be using him as a power forward, where his rebounding, passing, and defensive instincts could still have value in a smaller role. At his best, Simmons remains a rare connector. He can grab a rebound and push the ball, find cutters, defend multiple positions, and create transition chances without needing plays called for him.
Philadelphia has needed more size, athleticism, and defensive versatility around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Simmons, in theory, could provide some of that. He could operate as a short-roll passer, grab defensive rebounds, switch across matchups, and give Nick Nurse another player who can move the ball without hunting shots.
The problem is that “in theory” has defined too much of Simmons’ career.
The offensive flaws are still clear. Simmons does not space the floor, does not threaten defenses from three, and has never forced opponents to respect him as a shooter. That was one of the biggest reasons his first Sixers tenure unraveled. In the playoffs, teams ignored him away from the ball, clogged driving lanes, and made every half-court possession more difficult.
That issue would not disappear just because his role changed.
If Simmons plays power forward, the Sixers would still have to build lineups carefully around him. He would need shooting at multiple positions, a clear offensive role, and the confidence to attack when defenses sag off. Otherwise, Philadelphia would be revisiting the same spacing problems that helped derail his career in the first place.
Then there is the health concern.
Back injuries have taken away a significant part of what made Simmons special. His mobility, burst, and defensive range were once elite. He could swallow ground in transition, pressure ball handlers, and guard wings without looking overmatched. Since leaving Philadelphia, those traits have not been as reliable.
A healthy Simmons as a low-cost power forward would be a solid idea. He could rebound, defend, pass, and give the Sixers a different kind of frontcourt piece. But the Sixers cannot evaluate him based on memory. They would have to be honest about what he is now, not what he was during his All-Star years.
Simmons still has tools that could help an NBA team. But the fit would require discipline, patience, and a very specific role.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected].
