From a broad standpoint, the LA Clippers have numerous voids on the offensive side of the ball. Their pace is slacking, the scoring is often stagnant, and far too many possessions end either too early or too late with poor shot selection. These are why the Clippers are in the bottom ten in the league’s offensive rating rankings.
Furthermore, the Clippers ensured they drove extra room in their roster, as the buyout market was capped with several talents who could engage the offense.
In addition, the moves announced at the deadline added more targets to the list, making their final decision even more crucial.
After days of discussing, evaluating, and negotiating, the Clippers agreed with the best player available, Ben Simmons. This works out for head coach Tyronn Lue, as Simmons is a three-time all-star, two-time all-defensive, and one-time all-NBA.
Though injuries have halted his initial trajectory, Simmons is still young, athletic, and explosive, significantly boosting Lue’s half-court offense. The only direction is up for executive Lawrence Frank and the Clippers, who signed Simmons for various reasons.
Ben Simmons propels the LA Clippers in what they need and what they are already great at.
Given that the LA Clippers are ranked below average in bench points per game, Ben Simmons’ production will be valued prominently. Sure, he may not score consistently, but Simmons’ playmaking will give his teammates easy shots, resulting in higher metrics.
In 33 games this season, Simmons has stamped 6.2 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.2 rebounds, shooting nearly 55% from the field.
What jumps out about these statistics is his assist averages in just 25.0 minutes per game. This shows he is constantly looking for his teammates, whether that is an open three, alley-oop, or a transition pass.
These traits resemble the former MVP, James Harden, who operates through a pass-first mentality.
Moreover, the Clippers can maximize Simmons’ play style by using him as a center next to Harden and franchise superstar Kawhi Leonard. His six-foot-ten build allows him to analyze the court and facilitate an easy bucket.
Additionally, Tryonn Lue will instruct Simmons to push the floor off a defensive rebound and take advantage of an unset defense. This strategy will improve pace and net ratings, as the LSU product is still ridiculously explosive.
That said, barring injury, Simmons will dominate as expected for the Clippers. Regardless of his complicated injury history, he is too talented and skilled not to.