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New Arrival Georges Niang Explains Why Ben Simmons is ‘a Piece of the Puzzle’ For the 76ers

Published 08/25/2021, 12:00 AM EDT

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Ben Simmons saw two extremes in the 2020-21 NBA season. He entered the year with the potential to win the DPOY award and ended it on a note that ripped him off his reputation. As the stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo & Trae Young exposed his defensive flaws, the man lost his direction and proved disastrous to his team. 

Ever since, the talks were huge that the Sixers would trade Ben for a better two-way player. However, nothing of that sort could take shape, and the flawed entity is still very much in Philly. But on the positive side of the tale, he has found a new admirer within his unit.

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Georges Niang to the rescue of Ben Simmons

On August 6, three days into the beginning of the free agency window, the Sixers acquired Georges Niang. Daryl Morey, the Head of Basketball Operations, expressed, “Georges is a talented player who can stretch the floor, and he immediately bolsters our frontcourt depth.”

Georges comes with a five-year league experience and also from a Utah team that topped the WC table in 2021. 

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In a recent interview, the star power forward had some kind words to say for his possible teammate in Ben Simmons. The Closer expressed, “That kid is an All-Star, you know what I mean… He is the piece of the puzzle that helps you get to that point, that puts you over the top to win a championship. I don’t know what’s gonna happen, but I’m a huge fan of him and I’m a huge fan of him at Philly.”

From the face value of his comments, one can infer that the talks in the Philly squad confirm Ben staying with them.

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Just like Dennis Schroder, Ben Simmons lost all his market in a matter of one poor series. The Philly front-office might demand a Harden-esque offer all they want, but no franchise is willing to bet hugely on Big Ben. The next LeBron is certainly at crossroads. 

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The 76ers are on the lookout for a package that can deem them with at least four future first-rounders along with a star. Will they get a De’Aaron Fox, CJ McCollum, or any other player is still a distant dream. 

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If none of that happens, the Sixers can still exploit the size and strength of Ben Simmons to help their defense. After all, just one bad season does not make him a poor player. So do you agree with Niang’s assessment of Ben? Help us know in the comments section below.

Watch this story – Kyle Kuzma, Ben Simmons, and Other NBA Stars Who Had a Nightmarish Performance in 2021

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Written by:

Sourabh Singh

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Sourabh Singh is an NBA sports analyst for EssentiallySports, who has been working with the site since May 2020. Prior to this, he functioned as Managing Editor at WittyFeed, followed by a stint at Decathlon. The Sports Management graduate leads an active lifestyle, veering to the mountains for off-trail adventures.
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