The Portland Trail Blazers are no doubt excited about the upcoming 2025-26 season. The summer of 2025 has seen more roster change in Portland that any since 2023, when the Blazers bid farewell to now-returned point guard Damian Lillard. The roster is new-ish, growing, and above all, dynamic.
One of the things Portland’s rotation might not be is complete. They field a number of growing, recovering, and/or unproven players. That’s not a bug, it’s a feature. The Blazers hope to put together some kind
of savant-level chemistry experiment and watch it explode into the next wave of NBA success.
In the process, Portland has downplayed a couple of attributes traditionally valued among NBA franchises: distance shooting and star scoring. Instead they’ve invested in versatility, defense, and unselfishness. The optics are odd, but the torch is held high nonetheless.
That brings us to one of the currently-unsigned free agents on the free agent market: Ben Simmons. Simmons is famous as the first-overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, part of the famous “process” of the Philadelphia 76ers. He won the Rookie of the Year award that season, followed by three All-Star nominations and two All-Defensive Team nods in his first four years.
That’s when a back injury and mental health struggles took Simmons out of the picture for an entire year. He’s played 42, 15, and 51 games in the three seasons since, suiting up for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers. His scoring stands at less than half of its peak level, he never attempts a three-pointer, and he’s not guaranteed to suit up, leading to frustration among fans, if not his employers. This might be part of the reason his name is not hotter this summer.
That said, Simmons has a few attributes that make him a potential fit in Portland. Defense is a near-given, at least as long as he’s active. His 6’10 frame and associated length lets him guard at least four positions. He can also handle and pass the ball. He’s traditionally played point guard. His assist-per-minute rate is as good as anybody in the league. Last year he would have ranked 6th overall in that category if he had enough appearances to qualify. He shoots 52% on the (admittedly few) attempts he does take and that’s low for him. His career average is 56%.
As we said, the Blazers seem to be valuing all these attributes nowadays. Simmons would be like turning the amp up to 11. There’s a difference between accepting average-to-shaky three-point shooting and absorbing a player who takes no distance shots whatsoever. There’s also a difference between riding with young players who are figuring things out and waiting on a player you’re not sure is capable of doing so.
Would it be worth Portland’s time, taking a look at the 29-year-old Simmons? If he could be had on a low contract–let’s say allowable minimum now or some kind of modest trade in the future–would he intrigue you at all?
I wouldn’t envision Simmons taking over the point guard role. Scoot Henderson has the first crack at that. Portland also acquired veterans Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard to help. They don’t need Simmons there right now, at least not badly. But what about as a wing or forward who could defend and keep the offensive continuity going? Is there any chance Ben Simmons could rehab his career with the franchise as a supreme utility bench player?
What are your thoughts on this? Would you take Simmons into the fold at the right price or is it a hard no from you? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
