Is Simmons playing his way off the team?

**sasaint** · 05-12-2017

I don't think it's that uncommon, actually. Plenty of players in the NBA are more concerned with the lifestyle and status that comes with being in the league than with actually being a consummate professional. Harden just stands out because he's so good, but honestly you can probably run down most rosters and find a couple of guys who's passion for the game is lacking just as much as Harden. They just aren't under a microscope bc they aren't top players. I think even most players that have shown professionalism, passion, and a desire to win are still concerned with the fame and status that comes with being a pro athlete (guys like Wade, Shaq, Kirby, Parker, Donkey, etc).

The rare ones are guys like Tim, Manu, Dirk, Kawhi who dedicate their lives to the sport and seemingly don't give a about anything other than being great at their job and winning.

Yeah, those guys are definitely a rarity and the gold standard.

But I never saw ANYBODY go zombie on national TV in a close-out, home playoff game like Harden last night. Nobody. Even if there are numerous guys (as you suggest) who value the celebrity, etc. more than playing as well as they can and winning, I never saw any of them do what Harden did. Even Kirby continued to jack up shots.

**pad300** · 05-12-2017

Yeah, he is. We have his partial Bird rights, which means we can match up to the MLE; beyond that we would have to use cap space. The MLE is 8.4 Million next year. Someone will put more money in front of him than that, just for the last 2 games against Houston alone. Any success against GS and he's gonna get more... We don't have cap space to pay him more, unless we are doing something radical, and if we do something radical, we probably go all in for CP3... Which still leaves us with no space to sign the Juice. As such, Pop is going to tell him go get paid, and wish him the best for his career.

**cd021** · 05-12-2017

Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37

Is Simmons really a Manu replacement, though? I understand that was the goal when he showed promise in year 1, but his playmaking is very poor and he was extremely inefficient at scoring, all year, despite playing against bench players and scrubs..

The only consistent facet of his game has been his defense, where he's one of the best in the league at his position..

I think he tends to get tunnel vision and isn't great at finding people on the perimeter but is pretty good at finding bigs around the basket when opposing bigs slide over to contest. He's a good play maker for himself off the bounce and can handle the ball and play defend multiple positions, there is value in that. Him hitting above the break 3's against Houston was a big part of his success early on in that series. Going forward, he needs to be able to hit corner 3's to take his game to a higher level.

**wildbill2u** · 05-12-2017

Too many variables to know the team makeup now, much less Simmons. You have possible retirement of Manu or a renegotiated contract like Timmy did to help the team. Parker may be through or unable to play and get whatever medical insurance the team has to cover his disability. That being said, I personally like Simmons, his back story, and his hard work as demonstrated in the Rockets series. He gives us a third good perimeter defender in a league that wants to go small. As such he can be plugged in at a couple of spots and give some valuable minutes.

**DAF86** · 05-12-2017

Originally Posted by Keepin' it real

Show me an NBA team whose roster is filled with players who ARE worth the money they get. Doesn't exist, and if so, that team probably sucks because they're bargain shopping for players like they're shopping for discount patio furniture.

Simmons isn't worth it. If we sign him to a big term deal, folks will be here ing abiut him for years to come. He's a 28 year old who depends almost exclusively on athleticism, he doesn't have much left. And he isn't even that good to begin with, tbh.

**BackHome** · 05-15-2017

As I said in another post I'll wait until he goes up against a good defense team. Houston doesn't play a lick of defense so easy to take it to the rim. So after watching game one against Warriors I would let him go for the $$. People laugh but Hanga will be a better system player for us