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Ben Simmons was recently profiled by Men’s Health. In a wide-ranging conversation that fittingly took place on a boat, Simmons discussed his past life as a professional basketball player, current life as a professional fisherman and most interestingly, a potential future life as a professional basketball player again.
Simmons has not played in the NBA since April 2025, but like many free agents this time of the year, he’s getting into incredible shape. He’s currently ramping things up and hoping to be “full strength” by his 30th birthday which is only about three weeks away. With NBA free agency officially starting tomorrow, this profile dropped at the perfect time for Simmons to let all the teams know that he is officially back in the basketball business. Via Men’s Health:
With that in mind let’s look at the current state of the two organization’s he namechecked in this interview and then a couple more high-profile teams that might actually take consider Simmons if they’re casting a wide net in free agency.
Jun 14, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) warms up before game four in the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks. at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
This is by far the funniest possible place for Simmons to want to play. He infamously passed up a wide-open dunk in the final minutes of a Game 7 to the Hawks in 2021.
After that decision and series, the fans wanted him gone and Simmons let them know the feeling was mutual by demanding a trade. At the time Joel Embiid called the situation, “disappointing, borderline kinda disrespectful.” Embiid is still very much there. As is Tyrese Maxey who was a rookie on the team when Simmons passed up that dunk.
The front office may have changed, but the fans are the same. The 76ers welcoming Ben Simmons back to Philadelphia would be a truly wild outcome.
According to Simmons, this has nothing to do with the team playing Miami, a city that has plenty of access to water, which is easily one of the best places to find fish if you’re into that kind of thing, which Simmons clearly is. Simmons claims he’s interested in the team’s culture, which may be true, but does he really seem like the Heat Culture type? How do you think Udonis Haslem, the team’s vice president of basketball development, would react to someone like Simmons, who just spent a year away from basketball fishing? If Pat Riley ever dropped his rings on the table in front of Simmons might try to use them as lures.
In theory a Heat lineup consisting of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Ben Simmons and Davion Mitchell would be very difficult to score on, but this is real life and not 82-0.com so it probably won’t happen.
Wait! Where are you going? Here me out!
Just imagine Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, LeBron James and Anthony Davis as the four other faces in that picture and then imagine how intimidating that would be.
They’re already bringing back Al Horford. Kristaps Porzingis could be a bargain at any price. Does Jimmy Butler have to be traded again before he can take a buyout and come back? There is no veteran singing that you can currently count out in Golden State.
MORE: Jimmy Butler’s agent addresses Warriors-Wizards trade rumor
The Timberwolves are another team taking some big swings these days. They just traded for LaMelo Ball and the biggest problem with him is his defense. Ben Simmons, when healthy, is a great defender. So as far as a basketball fit and hearing Anthony Edwards talk about Simmons being afraid to shoot three-pointers, this is great. While the Timberwolves may not have the same culture of the Heat, they do have 10,000 lakes, which actually makes Minnesota a perfect fish, er, fit.
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Simmons has not played in the NBA since April 2025, but like many free agents this time of the year, he’s getting into incredible shape. He’s currently ramping things up and hoping to be “full strength” by his 30th birthday which is only about three weeks away. With NBA free agency officially starting tomorrow, this profile dropped at the perfect time for Simmons to let all the teams know that he is officially back in the basketball business. Via Men’s Health:
With that in mind let’s look at the current state of the two organization’s he namechecked in this interview and then a couple more high-profile teams that might actually take consider Simmons if they’re casting a wide net in free agency.
Philadelphia 76ers
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Jun 14, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) warms up before game four in the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks. at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
This is by far the funniest possible place for Simmons to want to play. He infamously passed up a wide-open dunk in the final minutes of a Game 7 to the Hawks in 2021.
After that decision and series, the fans wanted him gone and Simmons let them know the feeling was mutual by demanding a trade. At the time Joel Embiid called the situation, “disappointing, borderline kinda disrespectful.” Embiid is still very much there. As is Tyrese Maxey who was a rookie on the team when Simmons passed up that dunk.
The front office may have changed, but the fans are the same. The 76ers welcoming Ben Simmons back to Philadelphia would be a truly wild outcome.
Miami Heat
According to Simmons, this has nothing to do with the team playing Miami, a city that has plenty of access to water, which is easily one of the best places to find fish if you’re into that kind of thing, which Simmons clearly is. Simmons claims he’s interested in the team’s culture, which may be true, but does he really seem like the Heat Culture type? How do you think Udonis Haslem, the team’s vice president of basketball development, would react to someone like Simmons, who just spent a year away from basketball fishing? If Pat Riley ever dropped his rings on the table in front of Simmons might try to use them as lures.
In theory a Heat lineup consisting of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Ben Simmons and Davion Mitchell would be very difficult to score on, but this is real life and not 82-0.com so it probably won’t happen.
Golden State Warriors
Wait! Where are you going? Here me out!
Just imagine Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, LeBron James and Anthony Davis as the four other faces in that picture and then imagine how intimidating that would be.
They’re already bringing back Al Horford. Kristaps Porzingis could be a bargain at any price. Does Jimmy Butler have to be traded again before he can take a buyout and come back? There is no veteran singing that you can currently count out in Golden State.
MORE: Jimmy Butler’s agent addresses Warriors-Wizards trade rumor
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves are another team taking some big swings these days. They just traded for LaMelo Ball and the biggest problem with him is his defense. Ben Simmons, when healthy, is a great defender. So as far as a basketball fit and hearing Anthony Edwards talk about Simmons being afraid to shoot three-pointers, this is great. While the Timberwolves may not have the same culture of the Heat, they do have 10,000 lakes, which actually makes Minnesota a perfect fish, er, fit.
Continue reading...
