Westbrook is outplaying Simmons in this game, and it's not even close. Westbrook has been better at distributing the ball, better defensively, and better rebounding. Simmons has missed defensive assignments, turned the ball over, and has had his player run off to double Embiid. The Sixers are now closing the gap a little, but it is because Simmons is on the bench and they have Embiid on the court playing with 4 shooters (not surprising at all that this lineup is having more success than a Simmons-Embiid lineup was)
Morey the goat???? He wants out because his biggest ENABLER, Daryl Morey is gone. It has nothing to do with our current roster because we're better this year than last. MDA was also a enabler who allowed him 2 do whatever he wanted. No coincidence his 2 hopeful destinations are Philly and Brooklyn. Harden doesn't want to be held fully accountable and with Tilman he can't do that now. Morey is the reason Harden’s become a huge crybaby when things don't go his way
Embiid is actually pretty good offensively, but he struggles so much when Simmons is on the floor with him. 76er's half court offense basically stops when both Embiid and Simmons are on the floor.
I prefer to watch the games, and I gotta tell you, he doesn’t seem to be a tempo master of any sort of championship offense. Maybe Silas can help?
You initially said "are we just looking at career assets totals"... I prefer to measure playmaking with AST % as I said. The Sixers are my second team and I've watched Simmons enough to form an opinion that he would do well to have his own team built around him. He's far from perfect, but in the context of a Harden trade I think he's best centerpiece. Jaylen Brown is a nice consolation prize and could be argued as the "safest, best package", but I think Simmons is the closest thing to getting a Harden level talent when it's all said and done.
Can't argue against this, except Chuck Hayes was a fraction of fraction worse. Simmons would be leaving a lot of offensive potential at the table if he can't get to be +70% FT shooter, which I think is a much more realistic goal than him ever being a competent 3 pt shooter. He's an enigma who is an elite playmaker and defensive player but can't shoot (which isn't the same thing as not being able to score). Chuck Hayes couldn't shoot or score or be a primary ball handler but Simmons can score and be a primary ball handler (while being ~4 inches taller).
Simmons's half court offense has a lot similarity with Capela, basically a center without a post game. Simmons is not as good as Capela on P&R and put backs, but is much better in passing and driving.
